What intervention should be included in the care plan for a patient taking tamoxifen for breast cancer?

Monitoring calcium levels is an important intervention for a patient taking tamoxifen, primarily due to the effects that tamoxifen may have on bone metabolism and calcium regulation. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that acts on estrogen receptors, and its use can influence bone density and calcium balance.

In women, especially post-menopausal women who tend to have lower estrogen levels, tamoxifen can have a protective effect on bone density, but it can also lead to fluctuations in calcium levels as a side effect. Regular monitoring of calcium levels helps to identify any imbalances early, which can prevent complications such as osteoporosis or hypercalcemia.

While other interventions like monitoring blood pressure or liver function may be relevant in the overall management of the patient, they are not as directly linked to tamoxifen’s specific side effects as monitoring calcium levels is. Likewise, encouraging a high calcium diet might be beneficial for bone health, but it does not address the need for regular monitoring to catch any acute changes in calcium levels that could arise due to the tamoxifen treatment.