What are the pros and cons of tamoxifen, an oral drug for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women in the world today. The latest data released by the World Health Organization in 2014 showed that in 2012, there were 1.67 million new cases of breast cancer and more than 520,000 deaths from breast cancer worldwide. Since 2008, the incidence of breast cancer has increased by more than 20% and the mortality rate has increased by 14%. So what are the pros and cons of tamoxifen, an oral drug for breast cancer?

Tamoxifen is a safe and effective anti-estrogen drug that is widely used in clinical practice. Tamoxifen is mostly used in cases with positive hormone receptors, with an effective rate of up to 55% to 60%, while the effective rate for negative receptors is only about 10%. Tamoxifen is more effective in postmenopausal cases than in premenopausal cases. Studies have shown that tamoxifen can be used as the first-line and effective endocrine therapy for breast cancer in all stages, and has become the first-line therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients in many countries. It is generally believed that the treatment duration of tamoxifen is about 2 years, preferably more than 5 years. After a large number of clinical observations, foreign scholars believe that tamoxifen can be used indefinitely or until recurrence occurs in the treatment of breast cancer.
Common side effects of tamoxifen include: nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, headache, dizziness, occasional hair loss, decreased white blood cells, decreased platelets, perineal itching, vaginal bleeding or increased secretions. Some patients may experience visual impairment, eye pain, optic neuritis, etc.