chalermporn

Q Side effect from tamoxifen to ovary

I removed my uterus after I gave birth due to fibroids and endometriosis. Last year I started to take tamoxifen 20 MG a day to prevent breast cancer, ( I don't have cancer yet but because of family history and high risk the doctor prescribes me this medicine to help prevent it and because I don't have uterus the study show that the medicine might effect uterus but now I concerned if it effect the ovary as well. Do you know about this medicine side effect to ovary? In Thailand , will the doctor order the cancer blood test beside pelvic exam ( ultrasound) to check for cancer? If I am 48 years old and high risk. Thank you for your quick reply. I am going to Bangkok in the next few weeks, may be I should go and double check with you. Best, Aom

พญ.อัญชุลี

As you told that the doctor defined you as high risk group, Tamoxifen is the one choice for prevention of CA breast. In Thailand, if you have strong family history of CA breast(first degree of relation such as sister or mother), you have to see genetic doctor and gynecologist in Medical school for screening BRCA gene. If Gene is positive you have to follow up as guideline. The details of guideline are very complicated. The one thing must do is follow up by transvaginal ultrasound and check blood test for CA-125. If there is high risk to get CA ovary due to relative risk of genetic, the surgery is the one option for treatment.

 Tamoxifen is estrogen antagonist or resistant. it can resist ovarian cancer if the cause from estrogen dependent. But the main side effect is low estrogen level. Maybe you will get symptom of menopause.

 If you want to come and get double check in Thailand. I could do ultrasound for seeing the ovary and do blood test for CA125.