How long should a woman take tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer?
Women with advanced breast cancer may take tamoxifen for varying lengths of time. It depends on, among other things, how they responded to prior treatment. When it’s used as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer, it is generally prescribed for 5 years. The ideal length of treatment with tamoxifen, though, is not known. Two studies have confirmed the benefit of taking tamoxifen daily for 5 years. These studies compared 5 years of treatment with 10 years of treatment. When taken for 5 years, the drug prevents the recurrence of the original breast cancer. It also prevents the development of a second primary cancer in the other breast. Taking tamoxifen for longer period years is not more effective than 5 years of therapy.
