 on breast cancer survival prospects)
In a nutshell
This study investigated whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) taken with tamoxifen (Nolvadex) influenced survival rates in breast cancer patients. The study also looked at the association between SSRI use and patients’ ability to stay on their oral hormone therapy drugs. Using SSRIs with tamoxifen had no effect on breast cancer survival. Following the prescribed hormone therapy greatly improved breast cancer survival.
Some background
Women with breast cancer can suffer from depression. When breast cancer patients are depressed, they can find it difficult to keep taking their regular drugs, such as tamoxifen, to treat their cancer. SSRIs are commonly prescribed anti-depressants used to treat moderate to severe depression. They are considered relatively safe to use with few side effects.
Whether anti-depressants, such as SSRIs, combined with hormone therapy (therapy that blocks the female hormones, such as estrogen, that help cancer cells to grow) affect survival rates in breast cancer patients is unclear.
Methods & findings
This study investigated whether SSRIs with tamoxifen (a hormone therapy) had an effect on patients’ survival rates from breast cancer, as well as treatment adherence. Two patient groups were examined for each of these questions.
In a group of 11,570 patients, the combination of SSRI and hormone therapy was not found to have a significant impact on breast cancer survival.
A separate group of 9,104 patients were followed for hormone therapy adherence. Of these, 8% were also treated with an SSRI, either before diagnosis or during treatment. If the treatments overlapped for less than 50% of the time, there was an increased risk of the patient not adhering to their hormone therapy. There was no significant risk if the treatments overlapped for more than 50% of the time. The odds of having shorter survival were 4 times higher in those not adhering to hormone therapy.
The bottom line
The study concluded that SSRIs do not directly affect breast cancer survival. However, the authros suggested that depression in breast cancer patients must be diagnosed and treated. This should ensure that patients are better able to adhere to their hormone therapy, increasing the chances of survival.
The fine print
SSRI adherence was measured by number of prescription refills. Whether patients consumed their medication or not is not known.
What’s next?
It is very important to recognize and seek treatment if you are suffering from depression.
Published By :
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Date :
Aug 05, 2016
