Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer among women globally, including in Hong Kong.
A type of breast cancer is hormone receptor-positive. These cancer cells need female hormones, including oestrogen and/or progesterone, to grow.
Tamoxifen is an anti-hormonal drug which attaches to the hormone receptor in the cancer cell. It works by blocking oestrogen from attaching to the receptor, and thus preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
After primary therapy such as surgery and chemotherapy, a common practice to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer is to prescribe adjuvant tamoxifen for five to 10 years.
To get the most benefit from hormone therapy, patients need to take the full course of tamoxifen.
Women who complete the full course of hormonal therapy have a better survival rate than those who do not
Women who complete the full course of hormonal therapy have a better survival rate than those who do not. It is also important to follow the treatment plan in terms of right timing, correct dosage and exact frequency.