Types of hormonal therapy

page_title_detailed

About Breast Cancer>Treatments>Hormonal therapy>Types of hormonal therapy > Toremifene citrate

Toremifene citrate

general_content

Toremifene citrate is a hormonal therapy that is FDA approved to treat hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. It is a SERM, or selective estrogen receptor modulator, a medicine that prevents estrogen signals from getting to breast cancer cells. They are given as daily pills.

on_this_page

On this page

general_content

How toremifene citrate works

Toremifene citrate is closely related to tamoxifen. Like tamoxifen, it works by blocking estrogen from reaching estrogen receptors on breast cancer cells. Without the estrogen, the cancer cells can’t grow as well as they can with it.

Back to top
general_content

Who gets toremifene citrate

Toremifene citrate may be given if you have hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.

It is not used often in the United States, but toremifene citrate is an FDA approved treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Outside the U.S., this medicine is used for both early-stage and metastatic disease.

Back to top
general_content

How toremifene citrate is given

Toremifene citrate is given as a daily pill. Because your body makes estrogen every day, it’s important to take toremifene citrate every day.

Back to top
general_content

Side effects and things to remember

Common side effects of toremifene citrate are:

Less common side effects of toremifene citrate are:

Toremifene citrate can cause changes in your heart rhythm, so let your doctors know if you have a history of irregular heartbeat.

Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse can help you manage your side effects. You can also go to our section on Side Effects for more information.

Back to top
related_resources_article_carousel

Related resources

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) tests

11/04/24 | BY: Lori B. Ranallo

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) tests can help monitor whether treatment is working or if breast cancer has metastasized.

Read More
 | 2 Min. Read

Targeted therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

10/14/24 | BY: Sameer Gupta, Pallav K. Mehta

Targeted therapies are treatments that target specific proteins or markers on or within cancer cells that help cancer cells grow. There are many different kinds of targeted therapy, including CDK 4/6 inhibitors.

Read More
 | 12 Min. Read |

Treatment for metastatic breast cancer

10/14/24 | BY: Douglas Yee, Pallav K. Mehta

The goal of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to manage the disease while limiting side effects. Learn about available treatments and when they are used.

Read More
 | 22 Min. Read |

Clinical trials for MBC

09/26/24 | BY: Pallav K. Mehta

There are many reasons you might change treatments for metastatic breast cancer. If you and your doctors find that one medicine isn’t right for you anymore, you’ll talk about other therapies that are available.

Read More
 | 7 Min. Read |

Ribociclib

09/18/24 | BY: Sameer Gupta

Ribociclib (Kisqali), a targeted therapy, is the second CDK 4/6 inhibitor to be approved by the FDA. It targets two specific kinases, or enzymes, that help tumor cells grow and divide.

Read More
 | 6 Min. Read |

Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer

07/29/24 | BY: Saveri Bhattacharya

Hearing the words “You have metastatic breast cancer, and you will need ongoing treatment” can be traumatic. On this page, we’ll help you begin to make sense of your diagnosis, treatment options, and sources of support.

Read More
 | 18 Min. Read |

Metastatic trial search

06/21/24

Use this tool to find metastatic breast cancer trials across the United States.

Read More

HER2-Positive MBC

05/24/24 | BY: Pallav K. Mehta

Learn more about metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive and how it can be treated with targeted therapy.

Read More
 | 7 Min. Read |

PET Scan

05/03/24 | BY: Sophia R. O'Brien

A PET scan is an imaging test used to detect cancer throughout the body. They are not used to screen for breast cancer, but can help you and your healthcare team make decisions about treatment.

Read More
 | 8 Min. Read |

Tests for metastatic breast cancer

04/17/24 | BY: Debu Tripathy

Many different tests can be involved in a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. These tests can confirm the extent of the cancer and determine the most effective treatments.

Read More
 | 11 Min. Read |
stay_connected

Stay connected

Sign up to receive emotional support, medical insight, personal stories, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly.

about_this_page_tabbed_module
About this page
Glossary
About LBBC

Reviewed and updated: August 31, 2015

Reviewed by: Jennifer Winn, MD, MS

Tagged:

Was this page helpful?

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.