The American Cancer Society estimated in 2006 that more than 212,000 women in the United States would be diagnosed as having invasive breast cancer. Breast cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Michigan and the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Michigan women.

A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer can be estimated by modeling systems and is influenced by several risk factors. Strategies to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer include: lifestyle modification (e.g., exercise, diet, maintaining an optimum weight, limiting alcohol intake, limiting exposure to exogenous estrogens); ablative surgery (prophylactic mastectomy, oophorectomy, or both); and chemoprevention with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and/or Aromatase Inhibitors.

This April 2007 paper reviews the results of studies performed by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project— a large, multi-institutional study focused primarily on testing the effectiveness of SERMs (tamoxifen and raloxifene) in preventing breast cancer in women at high risk — and discusses recommendations for use of chemoprevention therapy.

• Use of Chemoprevention Therapy in Women at High Risk for Developing Breast Cancer (MCC Position Paper for Health Care Providers; April 2007) (available as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file)*

  • References used in compiling this MCC Position Paper (available as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file)*

  • Reviewers responsible for this MCC Position Paper (available as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file)*

*Please Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open, view and print this file once it has been downloaded. If you need a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, please click here.

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last updated: 06/24/07

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