A patient is prescribed tamoxifen, 20 mg PO twice a day, for newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer. While providing education to the patient, the nurse should include which of the following possible side effects?

Explanation

• Tamoxifen is an antineoplastic agent that competes with estrogen for binding sites. Side effects are related to the changes in estrogen binding.

• Side effects include hot flashes, vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, menstrual changes, nausea, vomiting, and vulvar pruritus. Hot flashes occur in over 60% of patients on tamoxifen. More serious side effects can also occur such as pancytopenia, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, endometrial cancer, stroke, or thromboembolism.

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