Around 10 million women at high risk of breast cancer are eligible to take a drug called tamoxifen to prevent the cancer. Yet, very few women choose to take the drug for prevention.
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center recently studied women at high risk of breast cancer who were eligible for the drug. They developed custom decision aids explaining the risks and benefits of tamoxifen for each woman in the study.
Despite the availability of information about tamoxifen, most women in the study elected not to take the cancer-preventing drug. Of the 632 women in the study, 80% were worried about side effects. The study results were reported in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Senior author Peter Ubel, M.D., professor of internal medicine and director of the Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan said:
“Experts have bemoaned the dearth of women taking these pills, worried that word has not gotten out about tamoxifen’s ability to prevent breast cancer in high risk women. Our study shows that even when the word does get out, most women are too concerned about the pill’s side effects to want to take it.”
Only 6% of women in the study said they were likely to take tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention. Three months later, fewer than 1% of women in the study had started taking the drug.
Tamoxifen’s side effects include:
- Increased risk of endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma
- Increased risk of blood clots and cataracts
- More common side effects: symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, irregular menstrual periods, headaches, fatigue, nausea, vaginal dryness or itching
(Source: National Cancer Institute)
Note: Some of the side effects mentioned above are rare, and not all women experience all side effects. Visit cancer.gov for more information on tamoxifen studies and side effects. Tamoxifen is also used to treat breast cancer.
If you’ve declined tamoxifen, what were your reasons?
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree