Some women in this study also experienced serious side effects of tamoxifen citrate. Some of these women experienced complications related to the treatment of these side effects. The major results from the study are intended to be an aid in weighing the potential benefit of a reduction in risk of breast cancer against the potential risk of serious side effects of tamoxifen citrate. 46.6 31.4 Two European trials of tamoxifen citrate in women with a high risk of breast cancer were also conducted. They showed no difference in the number of breast cancer cases between the women who took tamoxifen and those who got placebo.
Tamoxifen citrate is used to treat advanced breast cancer in women and men.
Three studies compared tamoxifen citrate to surgery or radiation to the ovaries in premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer and found that tamoxifen citrate was similar to surgery or radiation in causing tumor shrinkage. Published studies have demonstrated that tamoxifen citrate is effective for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in men. Tamoxifen citrate is also used in women with breast cancer who are at risk of developing a second breast cancer in the opposite breast. The Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group reviewed the 10-year results of studies of tamoxifen citrate for early breast cancer. Treatment with tamoxifen citrate for about 5 years reduced the risk of recurrence of breast cancer and improved overall survival.