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Use of medications to reduce breast cancer risk
Our review on use of medications to reduce risk for primary breast cancer indicated that tamoxifen and raloxifene reduced the incidence of invasive breast cancer in women without cancer, but also increased risk for blood clots. Tamoxifen was more effective than raloxifene in reducing breast cancer, but also increased the incidence of endometrial cancer and cataracts. Both reduced fractures. Adverse effects were more common in older compared to younger women. Wide-spread use is limited by the adverse effects of medications and inaccurate methods to identify candidates.
Medications reduce invasive breast cancer by 7 to 9 cases per 1000 women, assuming 5-years of use. There are 5 per 1000 fewer cases among women using tamoxifen than raloxifene. Estrogen receptor positive breast cancers were reduced, but not estrogen receptor negative.
Bibliographic Reference:
Heidi D. Nelson
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