Results of treatment of breast cancer with tamoxifen]

There were 62 cases of mammary carcinoma treated with the antioestrogen tamoxifen. The age of the patients ranged from 35 to 75 years. Tamoxifen was administered in a daily dosage of 30 mg (3 x 1 tablet). Treatment was carried out as monotherapy or adjuvant therapy. Treatment was carried out for 6 months with a follow-up period of further 6 months. In the group of patients with mammary carcinoma, 23 were premenopausal without metastases after radical mastectomy and sterilisation. The remaining 39 in this group were in the menopause with metastases which were in some cases untreated and in some cases treated by mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy (CMF-scheme). All Patients were PD in relation to further radiation and/or chemotherapy. Karnofsky-index was 60 minimum. After 4 weeks' treatment with tamoxifen both an improvement in general wellbeing and a regression of the focus of the tumour was achieved. A significant improvement in wellbeing and tumour status could be established for a total of 48 cases of mammary carcinoma. Treatment was well tolerated. Only 1 case of side effects in the form of vomiting occurred.