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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Breast Cancer: Medication Use to Reduce Risk

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: September 2019

Workgroups: Cancer Workgroup, Access to Health Services Workgroup

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that health care providers offer to prescribe risk-lowering medicines — like tamoxifen, raloxifene, or aromatase inhibitors — to women age 35 years and older who are at increased risk of breast cancer and low risk of side effects from the medicine. USPSTF recommends against use of these medicines in women age 35 years and older who aren't at increased risk for breast cancer.

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Objectives related to this resource (2)

Increase the proportion of adults who get recommended evidence-based preventive health care — AHS‑08
Getting worse
Reduce the female breast cancer death rate — C‑04
Improving

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2019). Breast Cancer: Medication Use to Reduce Risk. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/breast-cancer-medications-for-risk-reduction