Aromatase Inhibitors: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions

This means there are usually out-of-pocket costs, which can add up over time. The length of this treatment along with side effects, such as menopausal symptoms, can make it tough to complete treatment. Talk with your health care provider about ways to ease these and other side effects.

• Aromatase inhibitors are a hormone therapy (also called endocrine therapy).
• These tests help watch for cancer recurrence or progression during hormone therapy.
• You may qualify for programs that help with drug costs or offer low-cost or free prescriptions.
• They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.
• Taking Aromasin may cause joint pain and other kinds of body aches.

Clinical trials have shown that aromatase inhibitors are about 30% more effective in preventing breast cancer recurrence than tamoxifen or raloxifene. For that reason, aromatase inhibitors are the preferred treatment for post-menopausal women with estrogen-fueled breast cancers. In people who have estrogen receptor positive tumors, the risk of recurrence does not decrease with time. In fact, a hormone positive early stage breast cancer is more likely to recur after five years than in the first five years. It’s thought that the risk of recurrence remains steady (the same chance of recurrence each year) for at least 20 years following the original diagnosis. Fortunately, while chemotherapy does not appear to significantly reduce the risk of late recurrence, hormonal therapy (such as aromatase inhibitors) can reduce the risk.

Who can take aromatase inhibitors?

It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor. Your doctor may have you first take tamoxifen, then switch you to Aromasin. This can depend on different factors, such as how well tamoxifen treats your cancer. In some cases, your doctor may have you take both medications. The drug is also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for bodybuilding.

What are some frequently asked questions about Aromasin?

Certain drugs speed up how quickly Aromasin is removed from your body. If you take any of these, your doctor may adjust https://earthsongbymanyata.com/rise-in-illegal-purchase-of-anabolic-steroids/ your dosage. Before starting treatment with Aromasin, share information about all your medications with your doctor.

Possible side effects of aromatase inhibitors include muscle pain, joint pain and menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes). This means there’s less oestrogen in the body to help breast cancer cells to grow. Men with breast cancer may be given an aromatase inhibitor, although another drug called tamoxifen is more commonly used.