Does raloxifene reduce breast cancer risk?

Raloxifene reduced the risk of newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer by 76% during a median of 40 months of treating postmenopausal women for osteoporosis. This was attributable to a 90% reduction in the risk of estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer.

What is the difference between tamoxifen and raloxifene?

Tamoxifen is used mainly to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (breast cancer with cells that have estrogen and/or progesterone receptors on them). Raloxifene is used mostly to prevent and treat osteoporosis (very weak bones) in post-menopausal women.

Which is safer tamoxifen or raloxifene?

This means that raloxifene reduces risk of non-invasive breast cancer by about 38 percent compared to tamoxifen reducing risk for this type of cancer by about 50 percent; or raloxifene is about 78 percent as effective as tamoxifen in reducing the risk of noninvasive breast cancer over almost 7 years.

What is a serious adverse effect that may occur with use of raloxifene?

Seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: leg swelling/pain, trouble breathing, chest pain, sudden vision changes, severe headache, weakness on one side of the body, confusion. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

What are the side effects of taking raloxifene?

Raloxifene may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • hot flashes (more common in the first 6 months of raloxifene therapy)
  • leg cramps.
  • swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
  • flu-like syndrome.
  • joint pain.
  • sweating.
  • difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Is raloxifene stronger than tamoxifen?

Can stress cause breast cancer to return?

They have found no evidence that those who are more stressed are more likely to get cancer. Some people wonder whether stress causes breast cancer. But overall, the evidence for this has been poor. And a large study of over 100,000 women in the UK in 2016 showed no consistent evidence between stress and breast cancer.