MichiganRadio

Women Wary of Breast Cancer Prevention Drug Side Effects ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - A new study finds that many women at high risk for developing breast cancer are unlikely to take a drug that could help prevent the disease.

The study by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that even after getting tailored information about their breast cancer risk, many of the women declined to take a drug called tamoxifen.

Most of the women worried about side effects, which can include hot flashes and sexual problems and more serious conditions, including endometrial cancer or blood clots.

Angela Fagerlin was lead author of the study.

"They didn't think that the benefits of Tamoxifen were worth the risks, Fagerlin says. "So for many of our women who had a five-year risk of breast cancer being about 2.5%, Tamoxifen only reduced their breast cancer risk by about a percent or a percent and a quarter."

The study targeted about 630 women who were at high risk of developing breast cancer within the next five years.
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