Dr. Chopra is Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Dr. Baile is Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Disclosures Dr. Baile is a consultant to Amgen Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Chopra reports no financial relationships with any companies whose products are mentioned in this article, or with manufacturers of competing products.
For patients with estrogen–positive breast cancer, anti-estrogen treatment can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. However, it can cause adverse effects, including depression, that might impair quality of life and treatment adherence. For patients with severe depression, stopping estrogen blockers may be warranted. Initiating an antidepressant that does not interfere with the metabolism of tamoxifen may help treat depression and vasomotor symptoms.
