What is Tamoxifen?
Breast Cancer
What is Tamoxifen?
Published May 18, 2018
Tamoxifen gets a very bad rap – that’s the long and short of it – but it’s been around for a long time and is very effective. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator – which means it works to prevent estrogen from helping cancer cells to grow. It is also used to prevent breast cancer among women who are high-risk for breast cancer because of family history.
There are side effects for some patients, many of which mimic menopause (like hot flashes), but they can be managed. Tamoxifen is a commitment. For women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, patients are typically put on the Tamoxifen pill for five to 10 years and there is evidence that taking Tamoxifen for 10 years is more effective than taking it for five. In addition, Tamoxifen alone or in combination with chemotherapy reduces the chance of having a breast cancer spread.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Tamoxifen gets a very bad rap – that’s the long and short of it – but it’s been around for a long time and is very effective. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator – which means it works to prevent estrogen from helping cancer cells to grow. It is also used to prevent breast cancer among women who are high-risk for breast cancer because of family history.
There are side effects for some patients, many of which mimic menopause (like hot flashes), but they can be managed. Tamoxifen is a commitment. For women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, patients are typically put on the Tamoxifen pill for five to 10 years and there is evidence that taking Tamoxifen for 10 years is more effective than taking it for five. In addition, Tamoxifen alone or in combination with chemotherapy reduces the chance of having a breast cancer spread.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
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