Should I Take Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer?

A breast cancer that’s sensitive to estrogen is called estrogen receptor positive, also called ER positive. A breast cancer that’s sensitive to progesterone is called progesterone receptor positive, also called PR positive. Hormone therapy for breast cancer is often used after surgery to reduce the risk that the cancer might return. 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.

• If ovarian suppression with an LHRH analogue is chosen, serum estradiol levels must be monitored regularly to ensure that they remain in the postmenopausal range.
• For vasomotor symptoms, non-hormonal methods such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), gabapentin or clonidine should be tried first (63).
• Similarly, if the tumor cells contain progesterone receptors, the cancer is called progesterone receptor positive (PR or PgR positive).
• It is not clear whether an AI with ovarian ablation will be as good as or better than tamoxifen with or without ovarian ablation at this time.

Risks / Benefits

Hormone therapy drug costs can quickly become a financial burden for you and your family. Our team is made up of doctors andoncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Side Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors

This type of pain usually only lasts for 1-2 days, and only with the first treatment. Systemic treatment administered before definitive surgery is termed neoadjuvant therapy and is often used in women who have clinically involved nodes or a tumour that is ≥ 3 cm. Under these circumstances the chance of occult metastatic disease is high, and the chance of breast conservation with a cosmetically acceptable outcome is low.

https://mithion.com/study-finds-optimal-dosage-of-nandrolone-decanoate-2/ are unable to prevent the ovaries from making estrogen, which means that they are only used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. If you can’t have tamoxifen for any reason, your doctor might recommend you have other types of hormone therapy such as an aromatase inhibitor. Tamoxifen is one of the most commonly used hormone therapies for breast cancer. Women who are still having periods (are pre menopausal) and women who have had their menopause (post menopausal) can take tamoxifen. You might also have this treatment if you are a man with breast cancer. These hormones can stimulate the growth of some breast cancer cells.

Aromatase inhibitors are typically used to treat people who have already experienced menopause. See full prescribing information for further information about exemestane dosing. People who are prescribed tamoxifen should discuss the use of all other medications with their doctors. Breast cancers that lack ERs are called ER negative, and if they lack both ER and PR they may be called HR negative.