A Breast Cancer Prevention Drug Might Actually Cause Tumors

Um, weird. A new study shows that women who use Tamoxifen, a drug mean to prevent estrogen-sensitive cancers like breast cancer, for more than five years are four times more likely to develop a non-estrogen-sensitive tumor in their other breast. The new tumors, although uncommon, are more difficult to treat. Scary, but docs are quick to question the study, which only examined women’s chances of developing cancer in their second breast. Some said it could just be a “statistical fluke” and pointed out that none of the women who took Tamoxifen for one to four years developed a new tumor. Others are worried that the results of this study could make patients scared to take the drug, which has been proven effective in keeping cancer from recurring or spreading. Eek. [NY Times]