Breast Cancer Risk Factors & How Nolvadex 10mg Can Reduce the Risk!

03/26/2025

 

What is Nolvadex 10mg?

Nolvadex 10mg contains Tamoxifen as its primary active ingredient. This medicine, known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is used to treat estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. It reduces the risk of breast cancers from metastasizing post-surgery. It is also used as a way to prevent estrogen-related breast cancer in women who are at high risk for developing this disease due to a myriad of factors. 

How Can Nolvadex 10mg Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer?

The major type of breast cancer that occurs in women requires the hormone estrogen to grow. Nolvadex 10mg can be called one of the anti-breast cancer drugs as it has antagonistic effects on the production of estrogen that leads to a reduced risk of developing breast cancer. This medication also decreases the tumor growth factor α and limits the amount of freely available estrogen in the body, which also reduces the occurrence of breast cancer. This medication has also been shown to lead to the death of cancer cells, which require estrogen to grow.

What are the Side Effects of Using Nolvadex 10mg?

Some of the most common side effects of using Tamoxifen Citrate 10mg tablet that may be observed are:

• Hot flashes

• Mood changes

• Abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding

• Nausea

• Fluid retention

Some serious side effects that may be caused by the use of Tamoxifen Citrate 10mg tablet are:

• A severe Allergic reaction

• Uterine Cancer

• Blood Clots

• Liver Damage

• High Calcium Levels

• Blood Disorders

• Eye problems

What are Some Precautions you need to Follow While Using Nolvadex 10mg?

It is important to get regularly screened with mammograms, breast exams, and pelvic exams while taking Nolvadex 10mg tablets to rule out any occurrence of cancers that may be related to hormonal fluctuations.

Do not take Tamoxifen if you have cancer in your milk ducts or any history of blood clots that were formed in the veins of your lower limbs(deep vein thrombosis). You should also not be taking this medication if you are already on medicines such as warfarin.  

Let your doctor know if you have any of the following conditions before starting your treatment with Nolvadex 10mg:

• Absence of/irregular periods

• Unusual vaginal bleeding

• Blood clots in the veins or lungs

• History of a stroke

You must be on effective birth control while taking this medication, as it may harm the fetus.

You should limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking this medication as it may increase your episodes of hot flashes or cause them.

What are Some Key Risk Factors For Breast Cancer?

Natural Factors

Gender at Birth: Being born as a female increases the probability of developing breast cancer as most breast cancers require estrogen to bind to its receptors for it to grow and metastasize. If you are female by birth, the tissues in your breasts are more active and prone to go through hormonal shifts, which may be one of the most significant determinants for developing breast cancer.

Age: Mostly, women over the age of 45 or someone who has already reached menopause are at a higher threat of developing breast cancer. This may be due to the accumulation of changes in the breast and prolonged exposure to bodily hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. This leads to the growth of existing hormone-receptive cancer cells in the breast.

Genetic Mutations: A few mutations occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes inherited by birth, predisposing you to a higher risk for developing breast cancers. This mutation is also linked to an increase in ovarian cancer.

Reproductive History: If a woman starts her menstrual cycle before the age of 12 and reaches menopause after the age of 55, it may expose the breast tissues to a longer cycle of estrogen and progesterone, which leads to an elevated risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast Density: Women who have denser breasts may be at risk for developing breast cancer. They may also be at risk of being diagnosed too late as the dense breast tissue hides tumors in mammograms.

Family History: If a woman’s first-degree relative has a history of breast cancer, it may increase the likelihood for the woman also to develop breast cancer.

Personal History: Women who have already had breast cancer stand at a higher risk for recurring breast cancer. Even some noncancerous breast diseases, such as lobular carcinoma in situ and atypical ductal hyperplasia, may also be associated with a risk of developing breast cancer.

Factors due to Previous Medical Intervention

Radiation Therapy: Women who have received radiation therapy near the face or breasts (e.g., for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) before the age of 30 may develop breast cancer in the later years of their lives.

Exposure to Diethylstilbesterol (DES): An observational study in the US revealed that women who were given DES during pregnancy between the years of 1940 and 1971 were at a higher risk for developing breast cancer later in life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Females who have gone through HRT may have a higher risk for developing breast cancer as the breast tissues have been subjected to abnormal or unexpected amounts of hormones.

Lifestyle Factors

Physical Activity: Women who have less physical activity throughout their lives run a higher risk of developing breast cancer, especially after menopause.

Overweight or Obesity: Older women who are obese or overweight have been observed to be more vulnerable to breast cancer, as adipose tissue (fat cells) also plays a role in increasing the level of estrogen in our body

Reproductive History: Women who have had a pregnancy after the age of 30 and have never breastfed or women who have never had a full-term pregnancy may run the risk of developing breast cancer.

Drinking Alcohol and Smoking: Several studies have linked smoking and consuming alcohol as one of the risk factors for developing breast cancer.  

While many risk factors are involved in the development and metastasizing of breast cancer, there are also some myths that have become popular over time. People believed that wearing tight bras may lead to breast cancer due to the constant irritation of breast tissues, which has been disproven. Another such myth was applying antiperspirants, which were also linked to possibly causing breast cancer due to the chemicals present in them.

Takeaway

Breast cancer can be a scary diagnosis for many women. However, it is important to remember that the risks can be significantly mitigated with timely diagnosis and proper treatment. The lack of awareness about early detection of breast cancer is one of the most significant reasons there are so many deaths in countries like India because of late diagnosis of this disease. We must spread the required information, such as the first signs of breast cancer and how to perform a self-breast exam. This disease is rampant but treatable.