Influence of metronidazole and tamoxifen in a case of otherwise untreated ulcerous breast carcinoma.

A 78-year-old patient with an ulcerous, purulent, exophytic fist-sized breast carcinoma (FIGO IVd) and a pulmonary metastasis who refused radiation, chemotherapy and operation, was treated with oral tamoxifen and metronidazole daily and with local antiseptics. After two months she was pain-free without analgesics. After eight months the exophytic part of the tumor had completely gone. One year after the beginning of treatment, during which she had led a normal life, metronidazole was withdrawn due to neuropathy, and the wound worsened within a few days. One month later opioids were required to treat tumor-induced pain. Two months later the patient died. The surprisingly long survival with good quality-of-life may indicate important effects of metronidazole combined with tamoxifen in the treatment of ulcerous breast cancer.