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Tamoxifen Effectiveness

Tamoxifen is used to treat estrogen-positive breast cancer, which accounts for more than two-thirds of all cases. Tamoxifen reduces the recurrence of breast cancer by up to 50 percent when taken as a follow-up treatment to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and is used to shrink breast tumors before surgery.

  1. How Tamoxifen Works

    • Tamoxifen works by inhibiting estrogen receptors in the blood of breast cancer patients, which makes it difficult for tumors to form or for the cancer to return. It was developed by ICI Pharmaceuticals in 1977 and is one of the most successful cancer treatment drugs in history. Patients usually take tamoxifen in single daily dose for five years after their primary treatment is completed. Numerous studies have shown tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer coming back by 30 percent to 50 percent.

    Who Uses It

    • Tamoxifen is usually prescribed to early stage breast cancer patients to prevent recurrence after their initial treatment of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. The drug is also prescribed for more advanced cases to slow the progression of the disease after it recurs. In some cases, tamoxifen is prescribed to women before surgery to shrink the size of a tumor along with radiation. Physicians will also prescribe tamoxifen to women who don't have breast cancer but have a strong family history and want to use it as a preventive measure.

    Other Effects

    • Like most drugs, tamoxifen produces some side effects, but they are not all bad. On the negative side, pre-menopausal women taking tamoxifen will often experience menopause symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain and night sweats as estrogen production is affected. It also slightly elevates the risk of developing cancer of the uterus. On the positive side, tamoxifen lowers bad cholesterol in some women and helps to prevent osteoporosis by inhibiting the growth of bone-damaging osteoclasts. Most doctors agree that any negative side effects are far outweighed by the proven benefits tamoxifen provides in preventing cancer from recurring.

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