Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer Treatment
Aromatase inhibitors also can be used to treat advanced breast cancer. And they may be an option for people who no longer benefit from tamoxifen treatment or whose treatment is completed. Hormone therapy for breast cancer is often used after surgery to reduce the risk that the cancer might return. clenbuterol Hormone therapy also may be used to shrink a cancer before surgery. If the cancer shrinks, it may be possible to remove less breast tissue during surgery. Using hormone therapy before surgery also gives your health care team information about how well your cancer responds to this treatment.
Like most drugs, Aromasin may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Aromasin may cause. Women who haven’t gone through menopause, either naturally or as a result of cancer treatment, can have treatment to stop their ovaries from producing hormones.
- Ovarian suppression prevents the ovaries from making estrogen, so a woman becomes postmenopausal.
- Learn about ways to manage hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
- Generic drugs cost less than name brand drugs but are just as effective.
- Aromasin may also be used off-label for other types of breast cancer.
This list doesn’t contain all types of drugs that may interact with Aromasin. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with the use of this drug. Taking some medications, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works.
What should be considered before taking Aromasin?
This is not all the information you need to know about Aromasin or Femara for safe and effective use. Review the full product information for Aromasin or Femara here, and discuss this information with your doctor or other health care provider. Insurance will most likely cover an aromatase inhibitor but your copays will be dependent upon your insurance plan. Contact your insurance company to check your drug coverage.
Medicines that block hormones from attaching to cancer cells
In women, aromatase inhibitors are only used in those who have gone through menopause. They cannot be used unless your body is in natural menopause or in menopause induced by medicines or removal of the ovaries. In men, aromatase inhibitors are typically used with other medicines to better block hormones in the body. A 2018 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology also noted that the risk of diabetes was 240% greater in women on aromatase inhibitors than in the general population.
However, some premenopausal women may take an aromatase inhibitor when combined with ovarian suppression, which shuts down the ovaries. Learn about aromatase inhibitors and treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Learn about aromatase inhibitors and other hormone therapies for metastatic breast cancer.
If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor. They can recommend other treatments and healthy ways to feed your child. In the 7 days before you start Aromasin treatment, your doctor will order a pregnancy test for you. Your doctor will also recommend that you use an effective type of birth control while you’re taking Aromasin. You’ll need to keep using the birth control for 1 month after you take your last dose of Aromasin.