Does taking tamoxifen for breast cancer treatment induce development of cancer of the uterus?

It can.: Studies show that women who take tamoxifen have twice the risk of uterine cancer as compared to non treated patients. However, the benefits of tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer far outweigh the risks. Aromatase inhibitors are a group of drugs that can be used instead of tamoxifen for post-menopausal breast cancer patients; these drugs do not have this risk.

Yes: The chance is about 1% and treatment is hysterectomy. With such a low chance then tamoxifen is worth the risk. A gynecologist needs to keep track of the patient and any unusual bleeding evaluated. There are also other hormone alternatives with less risk. Check with your medical oncologist to see which drug is best for a particular patient.