Anastrozole: 7 things you should know
Anastrozole is a medication that is used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. In most cases, anastrozole is taken for five years, although some women may take it for a shorter period. Anastrozole is usually taken in addition to other medications. Anastrozole is a medication primarily prescribed to people who need treatment for certain types of cancer.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Some side effects (such as osteoporosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) will persist for as long as you take anastrozole, and you may need to take medications for these. Others, such as lack of energy, nausea, and vomiting, and a headache go away within a Dianabol Elbrus Pharmaceuticals buy pharmacy couple of days to a few weeks. Anastrozole may also be used to prevent breast cancer in women who are at high risk of developing the disease.
More Info on this Drug
Breast cancer treatment is most effective when all parts of the treatment plan are followed as prescribed. Learn more about ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitors. However, some premenopausal women may take an aromatase inhibitorwhen combined with ovarian suppression, which shuts down the ovaries. However, overall survival is the same whether a woman takes an aromatase inhibitor for 5 years or 10 years [ ].
Anastrozole is used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause. Some breast cancers are made to grow faster by a natural hormone called estrogen. Anastrozole decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes and helps to slow or reverse the growth of these breast cancers. Anastrozole is used to treat early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
- Estrogens are steroid hormones that come in three forms, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3).
- Ask your doctor for ways to prevent these effects or make them less severe.
- People who complete the full course have better survival than those who don’t [95-97].
- Anastrozole is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Aromatase inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for converting androgens into estrogen. By inhibiting this process, Anastrozole reduces the amount of estrogen in the body, which can slow down or even stop the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors. 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.
Breast Cancer Signs
Aromatase inhibitors are pills, so they’re covered under your health insurance plan’s prescription drug benefit rather than the plan’s medical benefit. This means there are usually out-of-pocket costs, which can add up over time. After you get a recommended treatment plan from your health care team, study your treatment options. Together with your health care team, make thoughtful, informed decisions that are best for you. Each treatment has risks and benefits to consider along with your own values and lifestyle. The length of this treatment along with side effects, such as menopausal symptoms, can make it tough to complete treatment.
Before you begin taking an aromatase inhibitor, talk with your health care provider about possible side effects and how to manage them. Find a list of questions on hormone therapy you may want to ask your health care provider. Hormone receptor-positive breast cancers need estrogen (a female hormone) to grow. This is not a complete list of all side effects or adverse reactions that may occur from the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may also report side effects or health problems to the FDA at FDA-1088.