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Table 1. Predicted Benefits and Harms of 5 Years of Tamoxifen Therapy according to Age and Family History1

Variable2

Women 45
Years of Age

Women 55
Years of Age

Women 65
Years of Age

Women 75
Years of Age

Predicted 5-year risk of breast cancer, %3

 

   No Family history

0.7

1.1

1.5

1.6

   Family history

1.6

2.3

3.2

3.4

Benefits per 1,000 women over 5 y of tamoxifen therapy

 

Cases of invasive breast cancer avoided, n

       

   No Family history

3-4

5-6

7-8

8

   Family history

8

11-12

16

17

Cases of noninvasive breast cancer avoided, n

       

   No Family history

1-2

2

2-3

2-3

   Family history

2-3

3-4

4-5

5-6

Hip fractures avoided, n4

<1

3

5

15

Harms per 1000 women over 5 y of tamoxifen therapy

 

Cases of endometrial cancer caused, n4

1-2

12

21

"22"

Strokes caused, n4

1

3

9

20

Pulmonary emboli caused, n4

1-2

4-5

9

18

Cases of deep venous thrombosis caused, n4

1-2

1-2

3

4

1 These estimates are based on the Gail model, outcomes from the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, and baseline rates of harms from Gail et al.13
2 No family history = no first-degree relatives with breast cancer; family history = 1 first-degree relative with breast cancer.
3 Based on menarche at 12 years of age, first birth at "22" years of age, and no history of breast biopsy, as calculated from the Gail model.
4 Modified from Gail et al.13

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