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Results of a study from the Netherlands show that the drug tamoxifen,
often used to treat breast cancer and as a preventive in some high
risk women as well, increases the risk of
developing endometrial cancer. In addition, this risk increases
with time, leading researchers to question the use of the drug in
healthy women.
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Women who take tamoxifen for 2 to 5 years have twice the
risk of the cancer as women who have not taken it.
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Women who have taken tamoxifen for 5 years or more have a seven
times higher risk of endometrial cancer.
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The total increased risk for all women who used tamoxifen at
all was 50%.
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Advanced endometrial cancers were more common in women who
had taken tamoxifen long-term than in those who had not.
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The 3-year survival for endometrial cancer was "significantly
worse" for long-term tamoxifen users than non-users, the
team reports.
The researchers state "we seriously question widespread
use of tamoxifen as a preventative agent against breast cancer in
healthy women."
In an accompanying editorial, Karen Gelmon of the British Columbia
Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, advises that "before
bounding forward with prescriptions for tamoxifen, clinicians should
remember its risks and benefits."
The Lancet September 9, 2000;356:868-869,
881-887.
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