Raloxifene
I've heard a lot
about a new "designer estrogen" called Raloxifene. What is it?
I
have heard that Raloxifene can help prevent breast cancer. Is that true?
Also
See:
Hormone
Replacement Therapy
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I've heard a lot about a new
"designer estrogen" called Raloxifene. What is it?
Raloxifene is a
"selective estrogen-receptor modulator" (SERM). This means that it affects
some parts of the body in the same way estrogen does, but doesn't affect
other parts of the body like estrogen. Taking estrogen replacement therapy
after menopause has good effects on some parts of the body, but also has
some potential risks in other parts of the body. Good effects include
lowering cholesterol, preventing bone thinning and hip fractures, and
treating symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. The
risks of taking estrogen include uterine cancer, blood clots, and possibly
breast cancer in some women.
Ideally, a SERM
would have all the good effects of estrogen, and none of the bad effects,
but no SERM is yet available in the U.S. that meets that standard.
However, some SERMs may have a better balance of risks and benefits than
estrogen for some women.
Currently, several
SERM-type drugs are being studied to see if they may be good alternatives
to traditional estrogen replacement therapy. Raloxifene is one of these
drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently approve it for use
in preventing osteoporosis (bone thinning). It is marketed under the trade
name Evista.
I have heard that
Raloxifene can help prevent breast cancer. Is that true?
There is some
preliminary evidence that when used regularly, Raloxifene can reduce the
risk of breast cancer. However, more studies are needed to determine if
this is true. The National Cancer Institute announced in October 1998 the
beginning of a study comparison of Raloxifene to the drug tamoxifen, a
drug to prevent breast cancer that has recently been approved by the FDA.
It will be two to three years before study results will be known.
from
The Office On Women's Health - US Department of Health and Human Services
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