In practice they use tamoxifen if either of the hormone receptors are positive, and if HER2 is + with anything else they use herceptin. This can change of course with stage, a t1n0m0 with negative margins who has lumpectomy+rad or mastectomy might elect not to or whatever but for the purpose of our boards I think if they present one as being positive for those receptors you can use those drugs.
As for tamoxifen vs raloxifene according to the STAR trial tamoxifen was more effective in preventing breast cancer of different types at 7 years (raloxifene was 78% as effective) but was better at preventing uterine cancer (makes sense considering mech). Both groups had very similar risks of fracture interestingly. In clinic I have not seen raloxifene used as much as tamoxifen. But someone else could weigh in better on that probably although I don't think it's a nuance we would really be tested on.
Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app