Tamoxifen lowered breast cancer incidence in all age groups, and possibly made the most impact on the over-50 group, although those women also had higher risks of side effects. Alonzo Walker, professor of surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin, which enrolled 85 patients in the study, said it gives more options for women at very high risk of breast cancer. It's called an anti-estrogen because it works by connecting into estrogen receptors on cells, preventing estrogen from attaching. Tamoxifen has been used for more than 20 years to treat breast cancer and prevent its recurrence. Taking tamoxifen more than doubled the risk of developing uterine cancer in women in the clinical trial.
Uterine cancer is easier to detect early and cure than breast cancer.
It also roughly tripled the risk of developing blood clots, commonly in the leg veins and more seriously, in the lungs, a potentially fatal complication. Discuss your medical history with your physician to see whether you're at increased risk for breast cancer. All rights reserved.