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Radiocast: Medications to Reduce Risk of Breast
Cancer
Debra: This is Healthcare 411: Information for better health. Breast
cancer is the second most common cancer in women. It’s estimated that nearly 15
percent of all women born today will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes.
Therefore, some women may turn to medications, but a new comparative
effectiveness report from AHRQ finds these drugs can also increase the risk of
other serious illnesses or health problems. AHRQ researcher Dr. Shilpa Amin
explains:
Dr. Amin: Drugs such as tamoxifen, raloxifene and tibolone can reduce the
risk of breast cancer in women. But each drug actually has distinct potential
harms. For example, tamoxifen has an increased risk for endometrial cancer,
hysterectomies, blood clots and cataracts compared with the other drugs. Women
should discuss these potential harms, as well as the potential benefits, with
their clinicians to make a choice about what is right for them.
Debra: Healthcare 411 is produced by AHRQ, the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
I’m Debra James for Healthcare 411.
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