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Dr. Kim Mulvihill ReportingIn 1998, scientists reported dramatic news in the battle against breast cancer. In a landmark study, they found a drug called Tamoxifen could actually prevent the disease in healthy women. Now a new study casts doubt on these benefits for most women.
It was called the first major advance in the prevention of breast cancer. The FDA approved Tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer in otherwise healthy women at high risk for the disease. Now a new mathematical analysis reveals surprising, and for some, disappointing news.
Scientists found most healthy women at high risk for breast cancer may not live any longer by taking Tamoxifen. In fact, for some women, the drug may cause more harm than good.
Tamoxifen appears to only benefit healthy women at very high risk for breast cancer. For women at marginal risk, the drug's potentially serious side effects outweighed the benefits, including uterine cancer, blood clots and strokes.
