Tamoxifen for breast cancer

About tamoxifen

Treatment options for cáncer de mama include surgery, quimioterapia, radioterapia and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments is used. Tamoxifen is a hormone treatment.

Some breast cancers need the female hormone oestrogen to grow. The cells of these cancers have receptors on their surface that oestrogen can attach to and are called 'hormone receptor-positive' cancers. Tamoxifen works by blocking the receptors and this prevents oestrogen from reaching cancer cells, stopping them from growing.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking tamoxifen it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you have unusual or irregular menstrual periods.

• If you have ever had a stroke, a blood clot in your lungs, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

• Si estás embarazada o amamantando.

• If you have porphyria, a rare inherited blood disorder.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines. It is also particularly important that you tell your doctor if you are taking a hormonal contraceptive ('the pill' or 'mini-pill') or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

• Si alguna vez has tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Before starting this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The leaflet will give you more information about tamoxifen and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take one 20 mg tablet of tamoxifen each day, exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your dose will also be on the label of the pack to remind you.

• You may take tamoxifen at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember, but try to take your doses at the same time each day. This will help you avoid missing any doses. You can take tamoxifen before, during or after meals.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor or clinic. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. You may need to have a blood test from time to time.

• If you are having an operation, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking tamoxifen. This is because you may need to stop taking tamoxifen for a while before the operation.

• You must not get pregnant whilst you are on tamoxifen. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner, if this is relevant for you.

• Si compras algún medicamento, consulta con un farmacéutico que sean adecuados para tomar con tus otros medicamentos.

Junto con sus efectos útiles, la mayoría de los medicamentos pueden causar efectos secundarios no deseados, aunque no todos los experimentan. Estos generalmente mejoran a medida que su cuerpo se adapta al nuevo medicamento, pero hable con su médico o farmacéutico si alguno de los siguientes efectos secundarios persiste o se vuelve problemático.

Importante: your doctor will have discussed with you the possibility of less common side-effects. You must let your doctor know de inmediato si desarrollas alguno de los siguientes:

• Pain or swelling in your lower leg, or any sudden breathlessness. Taking tamoxifen can increase the risk of you developing a blood clot in a leg vein (also known as a DVT), or in your lungs (also known as pulmonary embolism, or PE).

• Any swelling of your face or throat, breathing difficulties, or a severe rash. These may be signs of an allergic-type reaction.

• Irregular or unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, or pain in your lower tummy (abdomen). Your doctor will want to check to see if there are any changes in the lining of your womb that could cause concern.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que crea que puede deberse a este medicamento, consúltelo con su médico o farmacéutico.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.