The new study confirms that anti-estrogen drugs given prior to surgery can shrink breast cancer tumors. That means, in many cases tumors, can be treated with lumpectomies instead of mastectomies.
The study was conducted on more than 350 post menopausal women who had the type of tumors stimulated by estrogen.
Doctors suspected that by cutting off the tumors estrogen supply the tumors would get smaller and could be removed with breast conserving techniques. They say the study confirms that for older women with early stage breast cancer lumpectomy can be a viable alternative.
