Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer Treatment

Aromatase inhibitors are a class of medicines that work by blocking the enzyme aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors are used in the treatment of breast cancer to reduce levels of circulating estrogen. This means that less estrogen is available to stimulate the growth of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells, slowing or inhibiting the progression of these cancers. An aromatase inhibitor (in combination with ovarian suppression therapy) may be considered, however, for men who are unable to take tamoxifen for some reason. These medicines can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in those who have been treated for early-stage breast cancer.

• You’ll meet with your cancer doctor, called an oncologist, regularly for follow-up visits while you’re taking hormone therapy for breast cancer.
• Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with the use of this drug.
• Cancer medications given by vein (through an IV) or injection (under the skin or into a muscle) are usually covered under a health insurance plan’s medical benefit.
• The female hormone estrogen is “fuel” for about 80% of breast cancers in women who’ve gone through menopause.
• They can prevent people from getting the medications prescribed by their health care providers.

Everyone reacts differently to drugs and it’s not possible to predict how any of the drugs will affect an individual. Stopping the ovaries producing oestrogen using surgery, drugs or radiotherapy. Although the FDA has not yet approved aromatase inhibitors for any of these purposes, many believe that supporting research will one day broaden the current treatment recommendations. Aromatase inhibitors should not be used in people with a known hypersensitivity to any of the active or inactive ingredients in the drug. With that being said, a drug allergy is not common with aromatase inhibitors, affecting less than one out of 10,000 users.

Life during treatment

They can prevent people from getting the medications prescribed by their health care providers. Tests in a lab can show whether the cancer cells have receptors for estrogen or progesterone. If at least 1% of the cells have receptors, you can be considered for hormone therapy. These tests help your health care team understand how to treat your breast cancer. A breast cancer that’s sensitive to estrogen is called estrogen receptor positive, also called ER positive.

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However, cancer medications that are pills (oral cancer drugs) are usually covered under a health insurance plan’s prescription drug benefit. In general, aromatase inhibitors are only used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors lower estrogen levels in the body by blocking aromatase, an enzyme that converts other hormones into estrogen. This slows or stops the growth of the tumor by preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Hormone therapy for breast cancer is only used to treat cancers that are hormone sensitive.

Targeted therapy medicines attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. All three aromatase inhibitors work the same way and reduce the production of estrogen in the body. If your cancer has spread to other parts of your body, hormone therapy for breast cancer buy toremifene citrate may help control it. Hormone therapy is only used for breast cancers that are found to have receptors for the naturally occurring hormones estrogen or progesterone. When used to lower breast cancer risk, these drugs are typically taken for 5 years.

Aromatase inhibitors are unable to prevent the ovaries from making estrogen, which means that they are only used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force list exemestane and anastrozole as risk-lowering drug options for postmenopausal women at high risk of breast cancer. Depending on your circumstances, you may undergo tests to monitor your medical situation. These tests help watch for cancer recurrence or progression during hormone therapy. Results of these tests can give your oncologist an idea of how you’re responding to the treatment.

Only used if the breast cancer ishormone receptor positive. There is growing evidence that aromatase may benefit more than just postmenopausal women. A number of studies shown that the drugs may be beneficial in premenopausal women whose ovaries have suppressed with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnHRa). The primary source of estrogen prior to menopause are the ovaries (not the peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogen by aromatase as in postmenopausal women). Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as Aromasin and Femara are standard, ASCO guideline recommended treatment as adjuvant therapy in early stage breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The type and length of treatment for breast cancer should always be an individual decision made by a patient and their health care provider.

Which is better – Aromasin or Femara?

Aromasin may also be used off-label for other types of breast cancer. With off-label use, a drug that’s approved for certain conditions is used for another purpose. Costs of prescription drugs can vary, depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. Like all drugs, aromatase inhibitors can cause side effects.

Hormone therapy for breast cancer is a treatment for breast cancers that are sensitive to hormones. Some forms of hormone therapy for breast cancer work by blocking hormones from attaching to receptors on cancer cells. Other forms work by decreasing the body’s production of hormones. For some women who have been treated with tamoxifen, changing to an aromatase inhibitor may be recommended at some time depending on her risk of recurrence. How long you continue aromatase inhibitors depends on your specific situation.

As a result, people often find themselves facing high out-of-pocket costs when filling prescriptions for oral cancer drugs. Sometimes these costs can be thousands of dollars a month. Medicare and many insurance companies offer prescription drug plans. One may already be included in your policy, or you may be able to buy an extra plan for prescriptions.