Category: Breast cancer

Studies show that non-adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy is common, with some estimates suggesting up to 50% of patients do not complete a five-year course of treatment with drugs like tamoxifen [1.2.1]. So, **why do so many of us quit taking tamoxifen?**

Studies have found that non-adherence to tamoxifen can be as high as 50% over a five-year treatment course, significantly impacting outcomes [1.4.6]. So, is it okay to skip a day of tamoxifen? Consistency is crucial for this medication to work effectively.

Tamoxifen, a widely used hormone therapy for breast cancer, has a complex and nuanced effect on bone health that varies significantly with menopausal status. While it often provides a protective, estrogen-like benefit to the bones of postmenopausal women, its impact on premenopausal women can be the opposite, sometimes leading to a small but temporary decrease in bone mineral density.

Tamoxifen is a key medication in the treatment and prevention of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The amount prescribed is carefully determined by healthcare professionals based on individual needs and the specific condition being treated. For many, a particular amount is considered the standard daily therapeutic level.

Originally a brand name for the active ingredient tamoxifen citrate, a NOLVadex tablet is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) used for treating and preventing hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. While the brand name Nolvadex has been discontinued in some regions like the U.S., the generic version of tamoxifen is widely used.

According to the monarchE trial, adding abemaciclib to standard hormone therapy significantly reduced the risk of invasive disease recurrence by over 25% for patients with high-risk, HR+, HER2- early breast cancer. Abemaciclib (brand name Verzenio) is a targeted cancer therapy that has revolutionized treatment for this specific patient population.