It may also cause menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, nausea, swollen ankles, irregular vaginal bleeding, mood swings and weight gain. For years, I've recommended tamoxifen to women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer as a relatively safe and effective treatment. When the drug is used along with other therapy for early stage breast cancer, it helps prevent recurrence of the original cancer and development of new cancers in the opposite breast. Also, while acting against the effects of estrogen in breast tissue, it acts like estrogen in other parts of the body, providing such benefits as lowering of blood cholesterol and slowing bone loss. The National Cancer Institute emphasizes that the benefits of tamoxifen as a treatment for breast cancer are firmly established and far outweigh the potential risks.
Tamoxifen is a serious drug.
This should include mammography. I am cautiously optimistic about this drug and other selective estrogen receptor modifiers now under development. Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All material provided in the Ask Dr. Weil program is provided for educational purposes only.