women s health issues
Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention
Prevention of Breast Cancer
Taking medications that decrease the risk of breast cancer (chemoprevention) may be recommended for the following women: Those who are over age 35 and have had a previous lobular carcinoma in situ or abnormal tissue structure (atypical hyperplasia) in the milk ducts or milk-producing glands Those who have aBRCA1orBRCA2or another high-risk gene mutation Those who are between the ages of 35 and 59 and have a high risk of developing breast cancer based on their current age, age when menstruation began (menarche), age at the first birth of a child, number of first-degree relatives with breast cancer, and results of prior breast biopsies Medications that blockestrogenreceptors in breast tissue may be used to prevent breast cancer. They include Tamoxifen Raloxifene Women should ask their doctor about possible side effects before taking these medications. Risks oftamoxifeninclude Cancer of the Uterus (endometrial cancer) Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) None Pulmonary Embolism (PE) None Cataract None Possibly Ischemic Stroke None These risks are higher for older women. Raloxifeneappears to be about as effective astamoxifenin postmenopausal women and to have a lower risk of endometrial cancer, blood clots, and cataracts. Both medications may also increase bone density and thus benefit women who have osteoporosis. 