Decision-Making About Tamoxifen in Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer: Clinical and Psychological Factors

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 22; no. 24; pp. 4951 - 4957
• Main Authors: BOBER, Sharon L, HOKE, Lizbeth A, DUDA, Rosemary B, REGAN, Meredith M, TUNG, Nadine M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore, MD American Society of Clinical Oncology 15.12.2004; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - therapeutic use; Anxiety; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Breast Neoplasms - prevention & control; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Chemoprevention; Counseling; Decision Making; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Mammary gland diseases; Medical History Taking; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Physician-Patient Relations; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Risk Factors; Tamoxifen - adverse effects; Tamoxifen - therapeutic use; Tumors; Antineoplastic agent; Human; High risk; Decision making; Antiestrogen; Breast cancer; Antihormone; Malignant tumor; Tamoxifene; Mammary gland diseases; Cancerology; Adult; Female; Non steroid compound
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2004.05.192

To explore the health-related and psychological factors that influence decision making about tamoxifen (Nolvadex; AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA) chemoprevention in women at increased risk for developing breast cancer. This study involves the assessment of 129 women eligible to take tamoxifen following cancer-risk counseling. Treatment decision and decision satisfaction were measured at 2 and 4 months following counseling. Health-related factors included physician recommendation, personal and family-related health history, and concern about side effects. Psychological factors included breast cancer-related anxiety, risk perception, and depression. At 2 months' follow-up, 44% of participants declined tamoxifen treatment. This number increased to 49% at 4 months. Personal and family health history were not related to the decision, but history of abnormal biopsy did predict tamoxifen use. Physician recommendation was highly correlated with treatment decision. Concern about side effects was related to the decision to decline treatment. Breast cancer-related anxiety and heightened risk perception were associated with the decision to take tamoxifen. However, anxiety and psychological distress were also negatively related to treatment satisfaction. Decision-making about tamoxifen is complex, and many eligible women decline treatment or remain undecided. Findings call for further educational follow-up with high-risk women after they undergo initial counseling. Factors related to misperceptions of risk and side effects, as well as psychological distress, may be particularly important targets for intervention.