TUESDAY TIDINGS - Adjuvant Tamoxifen May Benefit Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive DCIS

I recently read an interesting article about a study that was done on Tamoxifen and the benefits for women with DCIS.

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

DCIS refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a breast duct. It is classified as Stage 0 breast cancer - the earliest possible stage. The condition usually does not produce any symptoms. DCIS now accounts for up to one-quarter of all breast cancer diagnoses in the United States.

Tamoxifen is a hormonal therapy that interferes with the effects of estrogen. It is commonly used in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive invasive breast cancer, and is also used to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women at high risk of the disease.

The role of Tamoxifen among women with DCIS was evaluated in a clinical trial known as NSABP B-24. All women in the study had DCIS that was treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy. Half the women were given Tamoxifen and half were given a placebo. The primary results from the study (published in 1999) indicated that Tamoxifen reduced the risk of another breast cancer diagnosis.

Although I was diagnosed with DCIS, I haven't had to take Tamoxifen because my cancer was estrogen negative. I often hear women talk about Tamoxifen, and it's side effects. It's sounds like, from the study above, that it can reduce the risk of another breast cancer diagnosis. But, I'm wondering how hard the side effects are to deal with. Anyone out there who is taking Tamoxifen, and would like to share information about side effects?