Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is a drug that suppresses hormone production and is used widely to treat breast cancer and some other cancers. For example, Tamoxifen can also be used to treat or prevent breast tenderness and swelling in some men with prostate cancer, which can occur due to hormone treatment.
Most breast cancers need the presence of the female hormone oestrogen to grow and spread. Cancer cells have protein receptors on their surfaces that the hormone attaches to. Cancers with oestrogen-receptors on the surface of their cells are called 'oestrogen-receptor-positive' (ER-positive).
Tamoxifen is most effective against ER-positive cancers, as it copies the action of oestrogen and fits into the receptor but does not make the cells divide. Tamoxifen blocks the receptors, so any oestrogen in the body cannot help them to grow.
Tamoxifen can reduce the chance of oestrogen-receptor-positive cancers coming back after surgery, while it can also be used to shrink large tumours down before surgery, so they can be removed more easily.
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