Tamoxifen is a generic prescription medication which is also available under a number of brand names. Doctors prescribe tamoxifen treatment for patients suffering from breast cancer or at risk for developing the disease in the future.

Function

Tamoxifen treatment works by binding to estrogen receptors within your breast tissue, decreasing the hormone's effect upon your breasts. Breast cancer tumors that require estrogen to grow are then unable to form or spread.

Uses

Doctors prescribe tamoxifen treatment for men and women with breast cancer that has spread to other areas of the body or to prevent the return of cancer after other treatments like a mastectomy, lumpectomy, chemotherapy or radiation. Tamoxifen treatment is sometimes given to women who are at a high risk for developing breast cancer due to family history or previous benign breast lumps.

Dosage

For treating breast cancer, doctors commonly prescribe 20 to 40 mg of tamoxifen for use once daily, with the length of treatment varying based upon the type of tumor and what other treatments are being used. To prevent breast cancer, doctors usually prescribe 20 mg per day for a five-year period, explains the Mayo Clinic.

Risks

Commons side effects of tamoxifen treatment include changes in menstruation, hot flashes, increased urination, flushing, difficulty breathing and changes in weight, reports the Mayo Clinic. Tamoxifen increases the risk of developing uterine cancer in some women and may cause strokes or the formation of cataracts, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Considerations

Tamoxifen has the potential to cause fetal harm, and women who have taken the drug should not become pregnant for at least two months after treatment, suggests the U.S. National Library of Medicine. If you have a history of blood problems, high cholesterol, cataracts, blood clots, uterine cancer, stroke or pulmonary embolism, it may not be safe for you to use tamoxifen treatment, warns the Mayo Clinic.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Tamoxifen (Oral Route)

U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed: soltamox (tamoxifex citrate) solution