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By Mayo Clinic staffBefore you begin hormone therapy for breast cancer, discuss with your doctor:
- The specific type of hormone therapy that best fits your situation
- The benefits this treatment may have for you
- The risks of using hormone therapy
If you're a premenopausal woman, talk to your doctor about appropriate birth control options during hormone treatment for breast cancer. Women taking tamoxifen shouldn't become pregnant because the medication may harm the fetus. A form of birth control that doesn't involve hormones is typically recommended during hormone therapy and for approximately two months after you finish treatment.
References
- Tamoxifen: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/tamoxifen. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Sabel MS. Oncology. In: Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5316764. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Meric-Bernstam F, et al. Oncology. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5021163. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Pritchard KI. Adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal women with early stage breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Pritchard KI. Adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Ellis M, et al. Endocrine therapy of metastatic breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 7, 2010.
- Treatment of invasive breast cancer by stage. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_by_Stage_Breast_Cancer_5.asp?sitearea=. Accessed June 4, 2010.
- Giuliano AE. Breast Disorders. In: Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5213900. Accessed June 4, 2010.
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