Medical Questions » Medicines Questions » Question No. 650
| Question: | My wife has had a mastectomy for breast cancer. The doctor has prescribed Tamoxifen, which produces hot flushes and fevers. What are the risks if she stops takinq the drug? |
| Answer: | Tamoxifen is a marvellous drug that has significantly improved the survival and cure rates for breast cancer in recent years. Cancers that were previously incurable have been cured with this drug, and it is now almost routine to use it for all cases of breast cancer.
Unfortunately, Tamoxifen does have side effects, some of which can be significantly more severe than those being suffered by your wife. The side effects must be weighed against the risks, but unless the side effects are very severe, I would strongly recommend that the Tamoxifen be continued as it will significantly improve the chances of totally curing the cancer.
The matter is one that is best discussed with the surgeon or oncologist who is caring for your wife, as individual circumstances and risks can vary very significantly.
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