on a death pathFor other tissues, tamoxifen continues to act like estrogenTamoxifen enhances bone metabolismTamoxifen is taken orallyPast studies indicate that patients on tamoxifen therapy exhibit a high cure rate for local cancer with minimal side effectsIt is too early to draw conclusion about tamoxifens ability to prevent cancer in high-risk womenRecent studies have demonstrated that shortened tamoxifen treatment time (from 10 years down to 5 years) does not affect cure rates for localized breast cancer and or further decrease systemic recurrences It has been determined that women on tamoxifen therapy do 10-25% better than women who do not take tamoxifen at allNot all breast cancer patients respond to tamoxifen therapyResponse predictions for breast cancer patients are based on the presence of estrogen or progesterone receptors on cancer cellsAs breast cancer cells are not all alike an average of 60% only show hormone receptorsIt is believed that with time, all cancer cells can become receptor negative and therefore, it is suggested that both tamoxifen and chemotherapy should be given. In most cases, it has been determined that the synergistic combination of tamoxifen and chemotherapy displays better success rates than if either agent is given aloneThe major side effect of tamoxifen is to the uterus.Perimenopause women can be induced by tamoxifen into permanent menopausePerimenopause patients and patients who recently discontinued HRT at the time of their diagnosis do the poorest with tamoxifen therapySome women develop an endometrial thickening of the uterus lining. This situation must be monitored, because of left untreated, it may become malignant.The risk of uterine malignancy is 1%.When one is on a tamoxifen regiment, the uterus should be examined with an ultrasound or by an endometrial biopsyMinor side effects of tamoxifen include vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and mild weight gainEvista, the newly- released SERM has been ...
