| The medication tamoxifin is administered in a pill form. | | | | Research has shown that when it is used as adjuvant |
| This medication interferes with the activity of the | | | | therapy in the case of early stage breast cancer, it |
| hormone estrogen in the body. This is a drug that | | | | not only reduces the risk of recurrence of the original |
| has been used for over 20 years to treat patients | | | | cancer, but it also reduces the risk of developing new |
| with advanced breast cancer. Also, it is used as an | | | | cancers in the other breast. So it appears that it |
| additional therapy following primary treatment of | | | | does help prevent breast cancer. Using these findings |
| early stage breast cancer. | | | | as a base, a research study has been funded to |
| When taken by women at high risk of developing | | | | determine the usefulness of tamoxifen in preventing |
| breast cancer, tamoxifen reduces the chances of | | | | breast cancer in women. These are women who |
| developing the disease. There are on going studies | | | | have an increased risk of developing the disease. This |
| being conducted for the use in the prevention of | | | | in depth study, known as the Breast Cancer |
| breast cancer. Also, there are studies using it in the | | | | Prevention Trial (BCPT), was conducted by the |
| treatment of several other types of cancer. It can | | | | National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project |
| also be used to treat breast cancer in men. | | | | (NSABP). This is a component of the NCI's Clinical |
| How does it work? | | | | Trials Cooperative Group Program. The conclusion of |
| Some have referred to tamoxifen as an | | | | the study was that there was a 49 percent |
| anti-estrogen. The reason for this is because of how | | | | reduction in diagnoses of invasive breast cancer |
| it works against the effects of estrogen on the | | | | among women who took tamoxifen. These same |
| body cells. Estrogen is a naturally occurring group of | | | | women also had 50 percent fewer diagnoses of |
| steroid compounds in the body, which sometimes | | | | non-invasive breast tumors, such as ductal or lobular |
| promotes the growth of breast cancer cells. When | | | | carcinoma in situ. Even with these great results, there |
| used as a supplemental treatment following cancer | | | | are risks associated with tamoxifen. Some of them |
| surgery, it assists in the prevention of the breast | | | | are even life threatening. The decision to take or not |
| cancer returning. It also has shown to help prevent | | | | take tamoxifen is still an individual one: The woman |
| new cancer developing in the other breast. | | | | and her personal doctor, as with any other |
| What are the other beneficial effects? | | | | medication or treatment, must carefully consider the |
| Even though it acts against the effects of estrogen | | | | benefits and risks of therapy. |
| in breast tissue, it will act like estrogen in other | | | | The use of tamoxifen is not new. It has been around |
| tissues. What this means is that those who take the | | | | for a several years, but it still a good option in the |
| drug may derive many of the beneficial effects of | | | | treatment of breast cancer. Combining this treatment |
| menopausal estrogen replacement therapy. These | | | | with newer treatments has decreased the number of |
| are lower blood cholesterol and slower bone loss | | | | deaths due to breast cancer, and hopefully one day |
| (osteoporosis). | | | | there will no more breast cancer. |
| Does it prevent breast cancer? | | | | |