Q: I heard the FDA recently approved a drug, Evista, to reduce the risk for breast cancer-is that true? Who can benefit from this medication?

Ask Our Expert About Evista

I heard the FDA recently approved a drug, Evista, to reduce the risk for breast cancer-is that true? Who can benefit from this medication?
Who is considered at high risk?
Is Evista as effective as tamoxifen in reducing breast cancer risk?

Q: I heard the FDA recently approved a drug, Evista, to reduce the risk for breast cancer-is that true? Who can benefit from this medication?

A: Yes, in September the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Evista (the brand name for raloxifene previously used to treat osteoporosis) to help prevent breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are at high-risk for the disease. If you think you're at increased risk for breast cancer, you should talk with your doctor about whether or not this medication-if any-is right for you.

Q: Who is considered at high risk?

A: Risk factors for women at high risk include those who are age 50 or over, have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer on mother's or father's side (especially first-degree relatives like mother, sister or daughter), previous breast biopsies (especially if the biopsy revealed any precancerous changes) and certain reproductive factors such as menstruation before age 12 or menopause after age 55, and no children or first child after age 30. Additional risk factors may include several years of hormone replacement therapy (especially combined estrogen/progesterone), alcohol use (risk rises with daily amount consumed), obesity, high-fat diet and lack of exercise (especially after menopause).

Q: Is Evista as effective as tamoxifen in reducing breast cancer risk?

A: Results from the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR, which included participation of 19,000 postmenopausal women who are at increased risk for breast cancer, showed that raloxifene was just as effective as tamoxifen in reducing the number of invasive breast cancers. Even better, raloxifene didn't appear to cause as many serious side effects, such as uterine cancer or blood clots. And for women with osteopenia or osteoporosis, Evista also will help to improve bone density.