I am not a doctor but I have had a bilateral mastectomy and some hours and hours of research in the various options and medications. I understand it has become common for some patients to take chemo to reduce the size of tumors before surgery. But I do not see how tamoxifen can reduce the size. It is an estrogen blocker that pre-menaposal women often take to try to prevent recurrence of cancer that was estrogen fed. Your pathology report tells your doctor whether your cancer is estrogen positive. Tamoxifen only helps women with estrogen positive breast cancer. Please research tamoxifen and question your doctor. Information is power. Good luck to you.

I actually asked my doctor why they didn't put me on tamoxifen right after I was diagnosed since it would specifically benefit my type of cancer. I was told by my doctors that it would interfere with chemo if I needed to go that route, so they wouldn't do any treatment until they had a clear picture of what treatment I would need. Also, tamoxifen doesn't necessarily work for everyone, so I would say get the cancer out of you as soon as possible and have all of the analysis done on the tumor to figure out what exactly is the correct coarse of action for you. They also waited almost two months before my surgery to get all of the facts. For my cancer, and seems like for yours as well, they are very slow growing, so a couple of months wont make a difference. The theory is that I had probably had cancer for 6-10 years before it was discovered. I would have the surgery, and if no node involvement, get the oncotype test to determine whether you need chemo, and then start on tamoxifen or what ever hormone uptake inhibitor they decide is best for you. I think that is the typical coarse of action for stage 1 and 2 hormone positive cancers.

I had chemo before surgery and that shrunk my tumors to less than half the size they were. I started Anastrozole 1 month after radiation. they wanted my body to heal first.

I have never heard of Tamixifen reducing cancer before surgery. Get a new breast oncologist if this is coming from your doctor please. Be well, Liz

I did research Tamaxifin & it is also used for post memaposal women. I certainly don't know anything...I am somewhat reluctant to try toe Tamaxifin or any chemo drug first...I just want this darn cancer out of me!! had another biopsy last week for my lymph node...I should hear from her this week to schedule an appointment for the results & see what she has planned...I will post my updates...The radiologist did tell me that she has seen cancer disappear after taking Tamaxifin for the 6 months. IDK....That would be a real miracle for me! Thank you for your quick response...Greatly appreciated!