Category Archives: Tamoxifen

What are the side effects of tamoxifen?

Breast Cancer, Tamoxifen

Side effects and Risks of tamoxifen

Tamoxifen acts like an anti-estrogen in some tissues and acts like estrogen in other tissues.

  • Hot flashes and night sweats
  • Cancer of the uterus (most were endometrial cancer, a few were uterine sarcoma).  The risk is not present in those patients who have had  a hysterectomy.
  • Blood clots (DVT, PE, and stroke)

Tamoxifen is contraindicated in patients who continue to smoke due to the increased risk of thromboembolic disease.

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ, a incidental finding, consider Tamoxifen

Bilateral Mastectomy, Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Drugs, Lobular Carcinoma In Situ, Recurrence, Sentinel Lymph Node, Tamoxifen, Total Mastectomy, , ,

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ

  • Usually incidental finding at biopsy
  • Younger premenopausal women
  • 1% risk of breast cancer per year
  • The future cancer can appear in either breast
  • If surgery is to be considered, the procedure of choice is bilateral mastectomy
  • Tamoxifen can reduce future risk of breast cancer by 50%

Increased probability of developing a carcinoma of the breast

  • This can happen in 20-30 years after diagnosis of LCIS (Lobular carcinoma in situ)
  • 1% risk increase of breast cancer per year in someone diagnosed with LCIS
  • No role for sentinel lymph node biopsy.
  • Treatment for Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
  • Close observation
  • Consider repeat mammogram in 6 months.
  • Informed of increased risk of breast cancer
  • No role for re-excision, SLN or irradiation.
  • Tamoxifen should be considered with a nearly 50% reduction in cancer formation in women with LCIS
  • For patients who insist on a surgical operation – a bilateral total mastectomy would be the procedure of choice because the risk of breast cancer is equal on both sides.
Tamoxifen mechanism of action. Breast Cancer.
Tamoxifen mechanism