When do you take tamoxifen

It can estimate your risk of getting breast cancer in the next 5 years and over your lifetime, based on many of the factors listed above. The tool does have some limits, though. For instance, it only looks at family history in close relatives like siblings, parents, and children.

Other risk assessment tools, such as the Tyrer-Cuzick model and the Claus model , are based largely on family history. There is no single definition of a higher than average risk of breast cancer. But most major studies have used a 1. Nolvadex is the trade name for tamoxifen. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Nolvadex when referring to the generic drug name tamoxifen. Drug type: Tamoxifen is a hormone therapy. This medication is classified as an "anti-estrogen" for more detail, see "How this drug works" section below.

Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful. A rare, but serious side effect of tamoxifen is blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis DVT and pulmonary embolus.

You should seek emergency help and notify your health care provider immediately if you develop sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. A rare, but serious side effect of tamoxifen can be the development of uterine cancer. Women who have not had a hysterectomy should have regular pap smears and gyn examinations. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.

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If you're taking tamoxifen, call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms:. Hot flashes or night sweats from taking tamoxifen can be troubling. But a British study suggests that women who experienced hot flashes and night sweats while taking hormonal therapy medicine were less likely to have the breast cancer come back recur. Knowing that this side effect might indicate a reduced risk of the cancer coming back may help some people stick with treatment despite the side effects.

Some women on tamoxifen have reported memory problems while taking the medicine. While no definitive results are available yet, the ongoing Co-STAR Cognition in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene trial is looking at the effects tamoxifen and raloxifene have on memory and thinking.

While costs vary, tamoxifen is usually less expensive than an aromatase inhibitor because it is a generic medicine. If you have health insurance, check with your insurance company to see if and how much of the cost of tamoxifen is covered.

If you don't have health insurance or your insurance doesn't cover the cost of tamoxifen, ask your doctor or nurse about programs in your area that may be able to help. Soltamox is available to patients who qualify at the same co-pay cost as generic tamoxifen. You can also read Breastcancer. Create a profile for better recommendations.