TREATMENT > Hormone therapy > Anti-estrogens
HORMONE THERAPY
ANTI-ESTROGENS
The most common anti-estrogen medication is tamoxifen. It attaches to the estrogen receptors of breast cancer cells. Tamoxifen prevents estrogen from attaching to the receptors and promoting cell growth, resulting in slower growth of the breast cancer.
Both premenopausal and postmenopausal women can benefit from tamoxifen, as can men with breast cancer. It can be taken for up to five years. It is usually not taken for a longer period because there is no evidence that it provides additional benefits after five years.
Some of the more common side effects of tamoxifen therapy include hot flashes, irregular periods, and vaginal discharge. Premenopausal women may experience reduced fertility while taking tamoxifen, but fertility should return to normal if the treatment is stopped during the child-bearing years. For men, a potential side effect may be impotence.
Less common side effects of tamoxifen include increased risk for blood clots and endometrial cancer. The small increase in risk for these conditions must be weighed against the significantly reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence (cancer coming back).
See your doctor for further discussion of possible side effects.
Other anti-estrogen medications include fulvestrant and raloxifene.
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