Effects of Tamoxifen After Menopause

When a woman is post-menopausal and is treated for breast cancer, tamoxifen is the drug of choice, according to Breastcancer.org. Tamoxifen is considered the gold standard of hormonal treatment for patients who have been diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.

Identification

• Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator or SERM. It blocks the effects of estrogen in breast cancer. Estrogen can promote cancer, which is why many peri-menopausal and fully menopausal women are opting not to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which used to be the standard for treating peri-menopause and menopause symptoms. HRT’s main component is estrogen.

How It Works

• Selective estrogen receptor modulators work by not allowing estrogen into the breast tissue, making it impossible for estrogen to attach to a cell. If estrogen can’t attach, the cells do not get from the hormone (estrogen) the signals that tell cells to grow and multiply.

Risks

• Breast cell estrogen receptors are different from the estrogen receptors in the rest of your body. The receptors have a specific structure depending on which cells they are located in. Tamoxifen is a “selective” estrogen receptor modulator, which means that it blocks estrogen’s effects in breast cells, but can activate estrogen’s action in bone, liver and uterine cells.

Side Effects

• Tamoxifen can have side effects, such as stroke, blood clot and the advent of endometrial cancer. If you have a history of heart problems or blood clots or are a smoker, this may put you at further risk. Taking a SERM, such as tamoxifen, can result in leg tenderness or swelling; a sensation of heaviness and pressure and possibly pain in the pelvis; abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding; shortness of breath, vision problems, chest pain, dizziness; tingling, weakness or numbness in your arms, legs or face; and severe headaches. The most commonly reported side effects include mood swings, night sweats, fatigue, hot flashes and vaginal discharge.

Hot Flashes

• The reason women have hot flashes is because the hypothalamus is deprived of estrogen. The hypothalamus controls your body’s thermostat. When estrogen levels are naturally low or are blocked through Tamoxifen, the incidence of hot flashes will increase.

Pros and Cons of Tamoxifen

• If you are peri-menopausal or menopausal you may already be suffering through hot flashes and night sweats. Tamoxifen may make these symptoms worse, according to Imaginis.com. However, there are some women who do not experience any negative side effects. Many doctors believe that the benefits of taking tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer far outweigh the potential side effects and risks.