Benefits of Tamoxifen & Its Effects on Breast Cancer Survival
According to the National Cancer Institute, Tamoxifen has been helping women become breast cancer survivors for more than 30 years. Studies of Tamoxifen show that while there are some risks associated with its use, the benefits far outweigh those risks.
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Function
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Tamoxifen prevents estrogen from adhering to the breast cancer cell. It does this by attaching itself to hormone-receptor positive cells, blocking the hormone required for the cancer to grow.
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Treatment
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Tamoxifen is a pill taken daily for up to five years, depending on your treatment plan.
Target
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Used primarily as an early-detection treatment for hormone-receptor positive breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, Tamoxifen is also effective in treating high-risk women before cancer is detected.
Advantages
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Taking Tamoxifen helps prevent cancer from recurring and reduces the risk of a new cancer developing in the other breast by up to 50 percent. Using a SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) such as Tamoxifen also helps stop bone loss in post-menopausal women and can lower cholesterol levels.
Warnings
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Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and nausea, may occur while taking Tamoxifen. Serious side effects include blood clots, stroke and endometrial cancer.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Luis Markovic
