Is there a link between back pain and Tamoxifen therapy?
Tamoxifen is a drug that is classified as an estrogen receptor blocker. It is used as part of combination therapy to treat advanced breast cancer and also to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk. Tamoxifen may cause many different side effects. One of these side effects may be a loss in bone density. This occurs as a result of blocking estrogen receptors. Estrogen plays a role in regulating the chemicals that are needed by the body to promote bone formation by increasing calcium absorption. By blocking estrogen receptors, it is possible that Tamoxifen may lead to bone loss, and studies have demonstrated that this occurs in premenopausal women. The most common neuromuscular and skeletal side effect of Tamoxifen is increased bone and tumor pain. This pain starts shortly after Tamoxifen therapy is started, and is an indicator of good response to therapy. The pain usually resolves quickly. Generalized muscle weakness has been reported also, but there have been no published reports o
