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The Long-Term Effects of Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen has been used as a treatment for breast cancer for more than 30 years and is considered the gold standard for preventing recurrence. Sold under the brand name Nolvadex, the drug has many side effects but most are temporary and just a few are long-term.

  1. What Is Tamoxifen?

    • Tamoxifen was developed by ICI Pharmaceuticals in 1977 as a treatment therapy for estrogen-positive breast cancer. The drug works by blocking estrogen receptors in the bloodstream that can lead to the development of new tumors in the breast or other parts of the body. The drug is taken orally in a single daily dose for 5 years and has proven to reduce breast cancer recurrence.

    Side Effects

    • Some women do not take tamoxifen because of the side effects. Many women have no side effects at all but those who do report a wide range. The most common include flushing and sweats, weight gain, nausea and indigestion, change in periods and headaches. These side effects tend to abate over time and disappear once a patient stops taking tamoxifen.

    Link to Endometrial Cancer

    • Women who take tamoxifen are at a slightly elevated risk of developing endometrial cancer, also known as cancer of the womb. This is a rare form of cancer that has been seen in some women who have taken large doses of Tamoxifen for 5 years or more.

    Other Long-Term Effects

    • Studies on rats have shown a link between the use of tamoxifen and liver cancer but these studies have not been replicated with humans. On the positive side, there is also some evidence that tamoxifen lowers the level of fat or lipids in the bloodstream, which reduces the risk of heart disease.

    The Best Long-Term Effect

    • The best-known long-term effect of tamoxifen is a track record of helping women with breast cancer avoid a recurrence. Taken as a primary or secondary therapy for breast cancer, tamoxifen reduces the risk of recurrence by 30 percent and even continues to work years after patients stop taking it, according to a study by the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London.

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