Questions for Your Doctor or Nurse
What is my risk for breast cancer? Is my risk higher or lower than other women my age?
What if I don’t want to start medicine at the age I am now? Can I decide to start later?
Is my risk for blood clots higher than usual?
Is one of these medicines a better choice for me? Why?
What help is there for side effects, like hot flashes?
Can I do anything else to lower my risk for breast cancer?
Table – Price
| Drug Name | Brand Name | Dose1 | How Often, How Long | How It Is Taken | Price Per Month2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic | Brand | |||||
| 1 Doses are for reducing the risk of breast cancer. 2 Average Wholesale Price from Red Book, 2009. 3 We do not know yet how long raloxifene should be taken for breast cancer prevention. NA = not available as generic. |
||||||
| Raloxifene | Evista® | 60 mg | Once a day 3 | Pill | NA | $115 |
| Tamoxifen | Nolvadex® | 20 mg | Once a day for 5 years | Pill | $115 | $245 |
Source
The information in this guide comes from a detailed review of 123 research reports. The review is calledComparative Effectiveness of Medications To Reduce the Risk of Primary Breast Cancer in Women (2009) and was written by the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) created the Eisenberg Center at Oregon Health & Science University to make research helpful for consumers. This guide was written by Erin Davis, B.A., Martha Schechtel, R.N., Bruin Rugge, M.D., and David Hickam, M.D., of the Eisenberg Center. Women at high risk for breast cancer helped the Eisenberg Center develop this guide.
Fast Facts
- Most women will never get breast cancer.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer increases with age.
- Two different medicines can lower the risk of some kinds of breast cancer.
- Both medicines have side effects and sometimes cause serious problems.