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Raloxifene for early stage breast cancer?

Page last modified on: November 20, 2008
Question from Beth: Is it okay to take raloxifene for the treatment of early stage breast cancer? I understand that the FDA will be approving the use of the drug in the near future. Do you know when?
Answer —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: This is an excellent question, and one that I hear a lot in my practice. Raloxifene (brand name: Evista) is a drug very similar to tamoxifen that is used in postmenopausal women to prevent worsening osteoporosis (loss of bone mineral density). Recently, raloxifene was compared to tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer in women who did not have breast cancer but were at high risk of getting breast cancer. It appears that raloxifene may be slightly less effective than tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer, but that it "wins" because some of the rare but serious side effects of tamoxifen are less common in people on raloxifene. In contrast, tamoxifen is considered a gold standard SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). I would not recommend substitution of raloxifene for tamoxifen in a woman taking a SERM.

Editor's Note: In September 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved using Evista (chemical name: raloxifene) to reduce the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women who are at high risk. The FDA also approved using Evista to reduce the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis.

On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2006. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and moderator Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about the newest research on breast cancer treatment, side effects, risk of recurrence, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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