A government-backed panel said that doctors should discuss using breast cancer drugs like Tamoxifen and Raloxifene in patients at high risk for developing the disease.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, or USPSTF, drafted new guidelines to recommend the drugs that block the negative effects that estrogen may have on breast tissue.
And while implementing cancer-reducing medications may help reduce the risk of developing hormone-related cancers, the USPSTF warns that not everyone should be using these drugs because they do come with side effects including blood clots and hot flashes.
"Currently only a minority of women for whom the medication might be indicated are actually taking it," said Dr. Mark Ebell from the University of Georgia College of Public Health and member of the Task Force.
"I don't think there's a right or wrong answer for women," Ebell told Reuters Health. "The main thing is just for women to be aware of this as an option and to talk to their doctor if they think they might be at increased risk."
Are You At High Risk?
Typically, women are considered to be at high risk based on age, race, personal history of breast exams and an evaluation of any family history of the disease.
There are some breast cancer assessment tools available, like the Gail model, that takes all of these factors into consideration when rating an individual's risk.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex,Soltamox), Raloxifene (Evista) Efficacy
Breast cancer drugs were found to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by 30 to 56 percent, according to a review performed for the USPSTF.
But both tamoxifen and raloxifene were found to double the chance for developing blood clots, while just tamoxifen was found to increase the risk for endometrial cancer and cataracts---according to results published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
Should You Take Breast Cancer Drugs?
Weighing the benefits and risks is something that both patients and doctors must grapple with regarding a multitude of preventative treatments.
And while side effects are a clear possibility with these breast cancer medications, Elissa Ozanne from the University of California says that there are usually "quality-of-life" issues associated with these types of drugs.
"The serious ones are very rare," Ozanne, who was not involved in the study told Reuters Health.
"It's something that they could try out and take a test run of it."
But Ozanne, who also studies decision science at UC-San Francisco, says that women can make other lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
"There are a lot of things women can think about doing, and tamoxifen is one of them, and so are things like maintaining a healthy body weight," she told Reuters Health.