Prevalence of tamoxifen use for breast cancer chemoprevention among U.S. women.
BACKGROUND
Tamoxifen can reduce the risk of developing invasive estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer by 49%, but it is unknown how many women in the United States are taking tamoxifen for primary prevention of breast cancer.


METHODS
Data from the years 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview Surveys were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of tamoxifen use among U.S. women for primary chemoprevention of breast cancer.


RESULTS
In 2000, approximately 0.2% of U.S. women ages 40 to 79 years without a personal history of breast cancer took tamoxifen for chemoprevention (95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.31). In 2005, the prevalence was approximately 0.08% (95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.17).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of tamoxifen use for primary prevention of breast cancer was very low in the years 2000 and 2005. Possible explanations for the low uptake are explored.
Waters
Erika A
EA
Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Center for Cancer Training, Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch/Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. waterse@wudosis.wustl.edu
Cronin
Kathleen A
KA
Graubard
Barry I
BI
Han
Paul K
PK
Freedman
Andrew N
AN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen