Effects of Tamoxifen on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

TAMOXIFEN is a synthetic antiestrogen that, since its introduction for the treatment of patients with breast cancer in the early 1970s, has come to have a major role in the management of all stages of the disease. 1 More recently, tamoxifen has been proved to have a favorable effect on disease-free and overall survival when given as adjuvant therapy after primary treatment for invasive breast cancer. 2 Although the optimal duration of therapy is not known, long courses — 5 to 10 years — are favored. 3 4 5 Tamoxifen is not a pure antiestrogen; it has some estrogen-agonist properties, such as the ability to . . .