What is tamoxifen?
Plastic Surgery: Breast Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions: ...Tamoxifen is a drug that is very similar to estrogen. It binds to the sites on breast tissue cells where estrogen would bind, and therefore blocks estrogen. Because estrogen cannot bind, it cannot stimulate the breast. Ithas effects on other parts of the body as well.
Related QuestionsNational Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)Tamoxifen is a drug, taken by mouth as a pill. It has been used for more than 20 years to treat patients with breast cancer. Tamoxifen works against breast cancer, in part, by interfering with the activity of estrogen, a female hormone that promotes the growth of breast cancer cells. In October 1998, the U.S.Related Questions
Tamoxifen: Q & A - National Cancer InstituteTamoxifen (Nolvadex®) is a medication in pill form that interferes with the activity of estrogen (a hormone). Tamoxifen has been used for more than 20 years to treat patients with advanced breast cancer. It is used as adjuvant, or additional, therapy following primary treatment for early stage breast cancer. In women at high risk of developing breast cancer, tamoxifen reduces the chance of developing the disease. Tamoxifen continues to be studied for the prevention of breast cancer.Related Questions
Imaginis - Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer Tr...Tamoxifen is a drug commonly used to help treat (and in some case instances, prevent) breast cancer. By blocking estrogen in the breast, tamoxifen helps slow the growth and reproduction of breast cancer cells. For nearly twenty years, tamoxifen has been used to help treat advanced breast cancer. More recently, it has been used to treat early stage breast cancer after breast surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy).Related Questions
Tamoxifen Frequently Asked QuestionsTamoxifen (Nolvadex®) is a medication in pill form that interferes with the activity of estrogen (a hormone). Tamoxifen has been used for more than 20 years to treat patients with advanced breast cancer. It is used as adjuvant, or additional, therapy following primary treatment for early stage breast cancer. In women at high risk of developing breast cancer, tamoxifen reduces the chance of developing the disease. Tamoxifen continues to be studied for the prevention of breast cancer.Related Questions
Imaginis - Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Cancer Tr...Tamoxifen is a drug commonly used to help treat (and in some case instances, prevent) breast cancer. By blocking estrogen in the breast, tamoxifen helps slow the growth and reproduction of breast cancer cells. For decades, tamoxifen has been used to help treat advanced breast cancer. More recently, it has been used to treat early stage breast cancer after breast surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy).Related Questions
Will Tamoxifen prevent reoccurrence in the other breast?
Plastic Surgery: Breast Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions: ...Tamoxifen does decrease the risk of a second cancer developing in the other breast. This is usually a second breast cancer, rather than a recurrence (as physicians use the terms). Actually it was through this observation that physicians recognized it might decrease the risk of breast cancer for other women. There was a study in which women received Tamoxifen after treatment for breast cancer. Those women had substantially fewer new cancers develop in the opposite breast.
Related QuestionsWhat is the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR)?
National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) is a clinical trial (a research study conducted with people) designed to see how the drug raloxifene (Evista®) compares with the drug tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in women who are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Researchers with the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) are conducting the study at more than 400 centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Related QuestionsWhat are the common side effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene?
National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)Like most medications, including over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, or drugs in research studies, tamoxifen and raloxifene cause adverse effects in some women. The effects experienced most often by women taking either drug are hot flashes and vaginal symptoms, including discharge, dryness, or itching. It is possible that some women may experience leg cramps, constipation, pain with intercourse, sinus irritation or infection, or problems controlling the bladder upon exertion.
Related QuestionsWhat are the side effects of tamoxifen?
KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Frequently Asked Questions ...Tamoxifen sometimes has some untoward side effects including fluid retention, hot flashes, and others.
Related QuestionsCan tamoxifen prevent breast cancer?
Tamoxifen: Q & A - National Cancer InstituteResearch has shown that when tamoxifen is used as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer, it reduces the risk of recurrence of the original cancer and also reduces the risk of developing new cancers in the other breast. Based on these findings, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded a large research study to determine the usefulness of tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer in women who have an increased risk of developing the disease.
Related QuestionsHow long do women have to take tamoxifen?
Imaginis - Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer Tr...The prescribed length of time women should take tamoxifen varies depending on the specific medical situation. Women with early stage breast cancer typically take tamoxifen for two to five years. When taken for five years, studies showed that tamoxifen prevented the recurrence of the original breast cancer and also prevented breast cancer in the opposite breast. Studies to determine whether tamoxifen is beneficial (or harmful) if taken longer than five years have been inconclusive.
Related QuestionsGen-Tamoxifen Can I drink herbal teas while taking Tamoxifen?
Genpharm Inc.A literature search has been done and nothing has been found with respect to not taking Tamoxifen and herbal teas at the same time; however, there may be some pre existing condition that clients may have that we are not aware of and suggest that you speak with your physician if this is the case.
Related QuestionsAre there other beneficial effects of tamoxifen?
Tamoxifen Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile tamoxifen acts against the effects of estrogen in breast tissue, it acts like estrogen in other tissue. This means that women who take tamoxifen may derive many of the beneficial effects of menopausal estrogen replacement therapy, such as lower blood cholesterol and slower bone loss (osteoporosis).
Related QuestionsWhat are some of the more common side effects of taking tamoxifen?
Tamoxifen Frequently Asked QuestionsIn general, the side effects of tamoxifen are similar to some of the symptoms of menopause. The most common side effects are hot flashes and vaginal discharge. Some women experience irregular menstrual periods, headaches, fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting, vaginal dryness or itching, irritation of the skin around the vagina, and skin rash. As is the case with menopause, not all women who take tamoxifen have these symptoms.
Related QuestionsWhat are the risks to taking Tamoxifen to reduce the risk of breast cancer?
Plastic Surgery: Breast Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions: ...There are side effects to any medication. There was a lot of discussion as to whether you could justify giving women a medication (with potential side effects) to prevent something that might or might not happen. That is why it is only given to women at sufficiently high risk to justify use. The side effects include an increased risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterus). This is not a problem for a woman who has had a hysterectomy.
Related QuestionsHow does tamoxifen work on breast cancer?
Tamoxifen: Q & A - National Cancer InstituteEstrogen promotes the growth of breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen works against the effects of estrogen on these cells. It is often called an “anti-estrogen.” As a treatment for breast cancer, the drug slows or stops the growth of cancer cells that are present in the body. As adjuvant therapy, tamoxifen helps prevent the original breast cancer from returning and also helps prevent the development of new cancers in the other breast.
Related QuestionsWhat is the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR), and how can a woman learn more about it?
Tamoxifen Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) is a clinical trial (a research study conducted with people) designed to see whether the osteoporosis drug raloxifene (Evista®) is more or less effective than tamoxifen in reducing the chance of developing breast cancer in women who are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Raloxifene may have breast cancer risk reduction properties similar to those found in tamoxifen.
Related QuestionsShould women taking tamoxifen avoid pregnancy?
Tamoxifen Frequently Asked QuestionsYes. Tamoxifen may make premenopausal women more fertile, but doctors advise women on tamoxifen to avoid pregnancy because animal studies have suggested that the use of tamoxifen in pregnancy can cause fetal harm. Women who have questions about fertility, birth control, or pregnancy should discuss their concerns with their doctor. Tamoxifen does not cause a woman to begin menopause, although it can cause some symptoms that are similar to those that may occur during menopause.
Related QuestionsHow long should a patient take tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer?
Tamoxifen Frequently Asked QuestionsPatients with advanced breast cancer may take tamoxifen for varying lengths of time, depending on their response to this treatment and other factors. When used as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer, tamoxifen is generally prescribed for 5 years. However, the ideal length of treatment with tamoxifen is not known. Two studies have confirmed the benefit of taking adjuvant tamoxifen daily for 5 years. These studies compared 5 years of treatment with tamoxifen with 10 years of treatment.
Related QuestionsAre There Interactions Between St. John's Wort And Tamoxifen?
Hypericum Buyers ClubI work with breast cancer survivors. Many of the women are taking tamoxifen and will be doing so for at least five years. We haven't seen any clinical studies proving that St. John's wort lowers circulating levels of tamoxifen. But, until the research is done, we would discourage women on tamoxifen from taking St. John's wort. It might make this drug less effective and increase the risk of a cancer recurrence. They might look into 5-htp and or SAMe as natural solutions.
Related Questions