Drugs Help Prevent Breast Cancer but Pose Risks Too

Women at high risk for breast cancer can often reduce the risk of taking drugs, including drugs such as tamoxifen or raloxifene, osteoporosis drug (Evista).

Now a new analysis suggests that women and their doctors about the dangers of drug side effects, blood clots, acts of Qatar, and endometrial cancer-count against the benefits of breast screening should prevail.

Approximately 2% of American women at high risk of breast cancer, but many do not take tamoxifen or raloxifene for Christy Russell, MD, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society, the organization Breast Cancer Advisory Committee Chair .

The new assessment appeared to Heidi Nelson, MD, Oregon Health & Science University and colleagues from eight clinical trials of three drug tamoxifen, raloxifene and tibolone. The experiments were all women at high risk of breast cancer is not diagnosed with the disease did.

Tamoxifen and raloxifene are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), a class of drugs that reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer in women at increased risk. Both drugs are approved for this purpose by the FDA. The researchers found that all three drugs reduced the invasive breast cancer by 30% to 68% depending on the drug. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are nearly equal in terms of reducing the risk of receptor-positive breast cancer, about 60% of cases of breast cancer.

But the drugs also reduce the risk of blood clots, one of the most serious complications. (Blood clots can cause heart attacks and strokes).

Dr. Russell recommended that women at high risk of breast cancer with your doctor and evaluate the risks and benefits of therapy. Women at high risk who should not have entered menopause, tamoxifen, raloxifene, postmenopausal women should opt for the low risk of certain side effects, he said.

The drugs prevent from 70 to 10 cases of invasive breast cancer per 1000 women per year for the use of the drug.

Women start with a high risk of breast cancer on several factors, including close relatives diagnosed with breast cancer are based (mother, daughter or sister) with precancerous breast condition.

In general, women, the risk of breast cancer, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol consumption is low, according to the American Cancer Society.