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Raloxifene good for post-menopause?

Page last modified on: September 5, 2008

Question from Susan V: What about raloxifene use for post-menopausal women? Is it as good as or perhaps better for them?: Answer —Charles Loprinzi, M.D.: Raloxifene (brand name: Evista) is a medication that is similar to tamoxifen. They are both termed as SERMS (selective estrogen receptor modifiers). With regard to treatment of recurrent breast cancer or treatment to try to prevent breast cancer, the vast majority of available evidence suggests that tamoxifen is superior to raloxifene. There is an ongoing study addressing the question of which of these two medications is better for preventing breast cancer in women who have never had breast cancer but are at risk for such. The acronym for this study is STAR (Study of Tamoxifen & Raloxifene). The one indication there is for raloxifene is for treatment of osteoporosis. Many oncologists, however, are not inclined to utilize raloxifene in women who have already had five years of tamoxifen.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Menopausal Symptoms. Charles Loprinzi, M.D., Debra Barton, Ph.D., and Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, and other symptoms associated with menopause.

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

Debra Barton, Ph.D. is a nurse coordinator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she directs clinical trials in cancer control and chemoprevention.

Charles Loprinzi, M.D. is an emeritus chairman of the division of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Along with hot flash management, his research focuses on ways to reduce pain as well as appetite changes caused by breast cancer treatment.

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.