Uptake of tamoxifen in consecutive premenopausal women under surveillance in a high-risk breast cancer clinic.
Br J Cancer
; 110(7): 1681-7, 2014 Apr 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24594998
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Randomised trials of tamoxifen versus placebo indicate that tamoxifen reduces breast cancer risk by approximately 33%, yet uptake is low. Approximately 10% of women in our clinic entered the IBIS-I prevention trial. We assess the uptake of tamoxifen in a consecutive series of premenopausal women not in a trial and explore the reasons for uptake through interviews.METHODS:
All eligible women between 33 and 46 years at ≥17% lifetime risk of breast cancer and undergoing annual mammography in our service were invited to take a 5-year course of tamoxifen. Reasons for accepting (n=15) or declining (n=15) were explored using semi-structured interviews.RESULTS:
Of 1279 eligible women, 136 (10.6%) decided to take tamoxifen. Women >40 years (74 out of 553 (13.4%)) and those at higher non-BRCA-associated risk were more likely to accept tamoxifen (129 out of 1109 (11.6%)). Interviews highlighted four themes surrounding decision making perceived impact of side effects, the impact of others' experience on beliefs about tamoxifen, tamoxifen as a 'cancer drug', and daily reminder of cancer risk.CONCLUSIONS:
Tamoxifen uptake was similar to previously ascertained uptake in a randomised controlled trial (IBIS-I). Concerns were similar in women who did or did not accept tamoxifen. Decision making appeared to be embedded in the experience of significant others.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tamoxifen
/
Women
/
Breast Neoplasms
/
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Br J Cancer
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Reino Unido