Should I take tamoxifen after DCIS?

Do I still need to take tamoxifen? Since your ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was treated with a mastectomy, tamoxifen wouldn’t be used to reduce your chance of a local recurrence. Rather, it would be used to reduce your risk of developing a breast cancer in the opposite breast—in other words, for risk reduction.

Is tamoxifen Effective for DCIS?

Of the endocrine agents approved for use as adjuvant therapy for invasive breast cancer, only tamoxifen is approved in the United States to prevent invasive breast cancer recurrences in women with DCIS, although data reviewed below indicate that the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole is also an acceptable option.

Should I stay on tamoxifen for 10 years?

A recent study published in the British Journal of Medicine indicated clear evidence that 10 years of tamoxifen therapy does reduce local recurrence and improve breast cancer-free survival. However, it also reported that extended use (10 years rather than five) was linked with a two-fold increase in endometrial cancer.

What happens after taking tamoxifen for 10 years?

Tamoxifen can have side effects, including hot flashes, fatigue, and an increased risk of blood clots and endometrial cancer. But there was no substantial increase in serious side effects, including endometrial cancer incidence or death, in women who took tamoxifen for the longer period, Gray reported.

What to expect after tamoxifen?

On the low end of the scale, tamoxifen can cause nausea, hair loss, vomiting, bone pain, and weight gain. More seriously, it can contribute to the formation of blood clots and cataracts.

Does tamoxifen raise the risk of uterine cancer?

Although tamoxifen does increase the risk of uterine cancer, the overall increase in risk is low (less than 1%). The risk of uterine cancer goes back to normal within a few years of stopping the drug. The increased risk seems to affect women over 50, but not younger women.

How effective is tamoxifen?

It’s only effective for some types of cancer. Studies have shown that tamoxifen can reduce the risk of cancer in high-risk women by more than 30%. But because the drug affects estrogen receptors in the body, it only works against cancers that are estrogen-receptor-positive or progesterone-receptor positive.

Is tamoxifen considered treatment for cancer?

Tamoxifen can be used to treat primary breast cancer. It is usually given as an additional treatment following surgery, to reduce the risk of breast cancer returning in the same breast or a new breast cancer developing in either breast, or spreading somewhere else in the body.