Can I choose not to take tamoxifen?
A woman who has been diagnosed with any type of uterine cancer or atypical hyperplasia of the uterus (a kind of pre-cancer) should not take tamoxifen to help lower breast cancer risk. Raloxifene has not been tested in pre-menopausal women, so it should only be used if you have gone through menopause.
Has anyone stopped taking tamoxifen?
Janice Hopkins Tanne. A large Irish study of women who were prescribed tamoxifen showed that 22.1% had stopped taking the drug within a year (Cancer 2007 Jan 27, doi: 10.1002/cncr. 22486). Within 3.5 years, the number who had stopped had risen to 35.2%.
Is tamoxifen really necessary?
Tamoxifen is a highly effective breast cancer treatment. It may significantly lower your risk of breast cancer recurrence or invasive breast cancer. People who are at high risk for breast cancer may take tamoxifen to reduce their chances of getting the disease.
Do tamoxifen side effects get worse over time?
A German study suggests that women who expect to have more and more severe side effects before hormonal therapy starts do have worse side effects after 2 years of treatment.
What can I take instead of tamoxifen?
Arimidex Still Better Than Tamoxifen After Surgery to Reduce Recurrence Risk
- Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole)
- Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane)
- Femara (chemical name: letrozole)
What happens when you stop tamoxifen?
Blood clots in your veins or lungs. These can occur for up to 2–3 months after you stop taking tamoxifen. Symptoms can include: sudden chest pain. shortness of breath.
Can tamoxifen be stopped suddenly?
More recent research suggests this is unlikely, but you may be recommended not to use these drugs with tamoxifen, in which case an alternative may be suggested. Check with your treatment team before stopping taking these drugs as stopping them suddenly may be harmful.
Is tamoxifen really that bad?
“There are serious side effects of tamoxifen, but fortunately, they are quite rare,” Wesolowski said. Some of the side effects include hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, discharge, and slight weight gain.
Is there an alternative to tamoxifen?
Earlier ATAC results found that Arimidex was more effective than tamoxifen in reducing the risk of recurrence of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Other studies comparing tamoxifen to the other two aromatase inhibitors (Aromasin and Femara) have shown similar results.
Are there any side effects to taking tamoxifen?
Most women take hormonal therapy for 5 to 10 years after breast cancer surgery. Still, like most cancer medicines, both tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors can cause side effects. Tamoxifen may cause hot flashes and increase the risk of blood clots and stroke. Aromatase inhibitors may cause muscle and joint aches and pains.
When to stop taking tamoxifen after breast cancer surgery?
Aromatase inhibitors aren’t commonly used to reduce recurrence risk in premenopausal women. Most women take hormonal therapy for 5 to 10 years after breast cancer surgery. Still, like most cancer medicines, both tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors can cause side effects.
When to stop taking tamoxifen and Femara at the same time?
Women who took Femara then tamoxifen or tamoxifen then Femara were more likely to stop taking hormonal therapy early. Joint pain was the most common reason women stopped taking Femara early. Blood clots were the most common reason women stopped taking tamoxifen early.
Is there a link between tamoxifen and uterine cancer?
Yes, they say for sure tamoxifen does cause thickening of the uterus in 100% of the patients and that is why it can increase your chances of uteran cancer. I had pelvic pain when I was on it and don’t any more.
