CancerNet News Three clinical trials comparing autologous bone marrow transplantation to standard chemotherapy have been accruing patients for several years. The NCI and the investigators associated with these studies would like to increase accrual to these studies so that important questions can be answered concerning the efficacy of bone marrow transplantation in women with breast cancer. Investigators are participating in these studies throughout the United States and Canada.
Radiation therapy is given to the chest wall following chemotherapy.
Tamoxifen is given to patients whose cancers contain estrogen receptors. All patients are followed with routine physical exams and periodic blood tests every 3 months for 3 years, every 6 months through the fifth year, and once a year thereafter. After the second treatment phase, all women in the study receive radiation therapy to the chest and the breast, and some patients also receive the anticancer drug tamoxifen, if needed. Patients are examined every 6 weeks for 6 months, every 6 months for 2 years, and once a year thereafter.