The Article in Brief

Background: Tamoxifen, a drug used to treat breast cancer, has also been shown to help prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease. However, it has potentially serious side effects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether women are taking tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer and to understand the reasons for their decisions.
What This Study Found: The study included 89 women who were identified as being at high risk for breast cancer. The women were told about tamoxifen and encouraged to discuss the issue with their family physician. Of the 89 women in the study, only 1 decided to take tamoxifen for preventive purposes. Forty-eight women discussed tamoxifen with their family physician. In 3 cases, the family physician advised taking tamoxifen. In 8 cases, the family physician made no recommendation. In 37 cases, the family physician advised against taking tamoxifen. The most common reasons why women didn’t take tamoxifen were fear of serious side effects, the perception that they were at low risk for breast cancer, and the lack of recommendation by their doctor.
Implications:
* Women at high risk for breast cancer as well as family physicians appear to be concerned about the potential side effects of taking Tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention.
* A family physician’s opinion is a key factor in the decision to not use Tamoxifen.
* Women who are at high risk for breast cancer need information to help weigh the risks and benefits of using Tamoxifen for preventive purposes.