What is tamoxifen for?

Hi. I was just prescribed tamoxifen and I am confused as to what it is for.

is it to stop a possible recurrence or is to prevent another cancer in the opposite breast?

If I already had chemo how important is it to my survival?

I don't really want to take it.  I am only 28 years old, stage 1

thank you

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Cammsmomme, Tamoxifen may be prescribed for either instance, recurrence prevention or prevention of cancer in the opposite breast. Two large trials by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project (NSABP) showed significant decreases in recurrences in the opposite breast at four-year follow-up for estrogen-receptor-negative patients given chemotherapy and for estrogen-receptor-positive patients treated with tamoxifen.

According to the current data available the recommendation for tamoxifen is that women with invasive breast cancer who have positive lymph nodes or tumors greater than 1cm with positive hormone receptors should receive adjuvant tamoxifen for a period of 5years.  For women with small tumors < 2 cm and negative lymph nodes, the risk of systemic recurrence is relatively low, and decisions about tamoxifen need to be considered carefully.  For the majority of such women, the benefits of tamoxifen probably outweigh the risks. Trials continue and information continues to be gathered as to whether treatment with tamoxifen after adjuvant chemotherapy in women with stage I estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, will improve overall survival.

The decision whether or not to take tamoxifen needs to be made after careful discussion of the risks and benefits with your oncologist, specific to your situation.