Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised. Breast cancer risk after salpingo-oophorectomy in healthy BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: Revisiting the evidence for risk reduction. Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2019-2020. 2015;107(5). http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Opens in a new window. J Natl Cancer Inst. Accessed Sept. 6, 2016. Raloxifene is also used for prevention and treatment of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. They can help you estimate your risk based on your age, family history, and other factors. Unfortunately there’s no way to know for sure ahead of time if a woman will benefit from this surgery. Follow us on Instagram. For breast cancer risk reduction, tamoxifen is typically taken for a total of five years. Additional studies are underway to determine whether aromatase inhibitors may reduce the risk of breast cancer in women with genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer. But for women without a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, the benefit of a CPM is less clear. 2006; 24:4642-4660. Raloxifene (Evista) is another drug in the class known as SERMs. This content does not have an English version. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. The American Cancer Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Studies have shown promise in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer in these high-risk women. Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a high risk of developing both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. In addition to regular screening, doctors can recommend several preventive treatments that help reduce this risk. For some women the surgery might not have been helpful. Medicines to reduce breast cancer risk. Accessed May. Use of medications to reduce risk for primary breast cancer: A systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Terry MB, Daly MB, Phillips KA, et al. Some women choose to have this surgery done along with a prophylactic mastectomy. We’ve invested more than $4.9 billion in cancer research since 1946, all to find more – and better – treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients’ quality of life. Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy provides no survival benefit in young women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. Read our updated visitor policy. Our doctors can help you decide whether a clinical trial is right for you. Whether you want to learn about treatment options, get advice on coping with side effects, or have questions about health insurance, we’re here to help. Breast cancer risk reduction. Gene expression profiling for breast cancer: What is it? Aromatase inhibitors aren't associated with an increased risk of blood clots or uterine cancer, as tamoxifen and raloxifene are. All rights reserved. it doesn’t guarantee that you will not get breast cancer. Tax ID Number: 13-1788491. Moyer AV, et al. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). While it decreases the risk of breast cancer, it can increase the risk of uterine cancer, more commonly in postmenopausal women. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks, Common Questions About the COVID-19 Outbreak, Breast Cancer Risk Factors You Cannot Change, Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Factors with Unclear Effects on Breast Cancer Risk, Disproven or Controversial Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Genetic Counseling and Testing for Breast Cancer Risk, Deciding Whether to Use Medicine to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk, Aromatase Inhibitors for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk, Preventive Surgery to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk, Have a strong family history of breast cancer (such as breast cancer in several close relatives, or breast cancer in at least one relative at a young age), Had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30, Have (or have had) cancer in one breast (especially if you also have a strong family history). Ovaries produce estrogen, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. Working with your doctor when you have metastatic breast cancer: Interview with a Mayo Clinic expert. Exercise! Visvanathan K, et al. Breast implants: Do they interfere with mammograms? While a prophylactic mastectomy can lower this risk by 90% or more, American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. Opens in a new window. Common side effects Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing. Cancer.org is provided courtesy of the Leo and Gloria Rosen family. 212-731-6000 Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicines that reduce the amount of estrogen in your body, depriving breast cancer cells of the fuel they need to grow and thrive. J Natl Cancer Inst. A prophylactic mastectomy is surgery to remove one or both breasts to lower the chances of getting breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors block the enzyme aromatase, preventing a woman’s body from producing estrogen. Heemskerk-Gerritsen BA, Seynaeve C, van Asperen CJ, et al. Use of pharmacologic intervention for breast cancer risk reduction: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline. For some women who have a very high risk of breast cancer, preventive surgery to remove the breasts (prophylactic mastectomy) may be an option to lower their risk. Medications for breast cancer chemoprevention are the subject of much ongoing research. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/types/breast/risk-reducing-surgery-fact-sheet on August 1, 2019. Raloxifene is used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in high-risk women who are past menopause (postmenopausal). As more results from research studies become available, doctors will have a better idea of the long-term health implications for these drugs and their effectiveness in breast cancer chemoprevention. Paulas story A team approach to battling breast cancer, Prophylactic oophorectomy: Preventing cancer by surgically removing your ovaries, Relationships and metastatic breast cancer, Infographic: Scalp Cooling Therapy for Cancer. 3. Tamoxifen is used to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in high-risk women age 35 and older, whether or not they've gone through menopause. Schedule an appointment online or call your doctor’s office. Selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer prevention. Common side effects of aromatase inhibitors include: Aromatase inhibitors increase the risk of bone thinning (osteoporosis). Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer Treatment, Prevention Tamoxifen is a medication that blocks the female hormone estrogen in the body. There are also other things that all women can do to help lower their risk of breast cancer, such as being active, staying at a healthy weight, and limit or avoiding alcohol. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. American Cancer Society. JAMA. While a prophylactic mastectomy can lower this risk by 90% or more, it doesn’t guarantee that you will not get breast cancer.