tamoxifen

noun

ta·​mox·​i·​fen tə-ˈmäk-sə-ˌfen 

: an estrogen antagonist C₂₆H₂₉NO used in the form of its citrate especially to treat postmenopausal breast cancer

Examples of tamoxifen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, about halfway through her tamoxifen regimen, Debra got a letter in the mail with bad news: The results of her latest pap smear were abnormal. —Longreads, 4 Jan. 2024

Most women tolerate tamoxifen well, but there are rare side effects of uterine cancer or blood clots. —Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 13 Nov. 2023

To keep it that way, doctors put Debra on tamoxifen, a hormonal drug used as a prophylactic against certain types of breast cancer. —Longreads, 4 Jan. 2024

Clinical trials have found that tamoxifen can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing breast cancer. —Laura Hensley, Verywell Health, 29 Nov. 2023

The two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prevention, tamoxifen and raloxifene, reduce estrogen in different ways but offer the same kind of protection. —Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 13 Nov. 2023

One option is the use of presurgical endocrine therapy (give tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor three to four weeks before going to surgery) to measure endocrine responsiveness). —Nathalie McDowell Johnson, STAT, 19 Sep. 2023

Cancer medicines cisplatin, quercetin, and tamoxifen. —Megan Nunn, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 21 July 2023

For example, tamoxifen is a drug that treats and prevents breast cancer. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 2 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

probably by recombination & alteration of trans-, oxy, and clomiphene

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

tamoxifen

noun

ta·​mox·​i·​fen ta-ˈmäk-si-ˌfen 

: a selective estrogen receptor modulator that acts as an estrogen antagonist in breast tissue and is administered orally in the form of its citrate C₂₆H₂₉NO·C₆H₈O₇ especially to treat breast cancer or reduce the risk of its development or reoccurrence see nolvadex