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 it for 10 years is more effective than taking it for five. In addition, it’s a treatment that when taken alone or in combination with chemotherapy reduces the chance of having a breast cancer spread.
Bottom line: before believing the negatives about Tamoxifen, be sure to do your research. And remember, everyone responds differently to medications, just as everyone is at a different risk level for breast cancer in general. The best way to learn more about this medication and your risks for breast cancer, consult with your doctor at your next regularly scheduled mammogram.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More
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 it for 10 years is more effective than taking it for five. In addition, it’s a treatment that when taken alone or in combination with chemotherapy reduces the chance of having a breast cancer spread.
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Bottom line: before believing the negatives about Tamoxifen, be sure to do your research. And remember, everyone responds differently to medications, just as everyone is at a different risk level for breast cancer in general. The best way to learn more about this medication and your risks for breast cancer, consult with your doctor at your next
regularly scheduled mammogram.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More
