Aromasin: Side Effects, Dosage, How to Take, Cost, and More

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. Learn about aromatase inhibitors and other hormone therapies for metastatic breast cancer. These medications do not affect estrogen production in the ovaries. Since that’s where most estrogen comes from, aromatase inhibitors are not usually recommended for people with fully functioning ovaries. Hormone therapy for breast cancer treatment is different than menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).

Hormone therapy versus menopausal hormone therapy

They typically remain on the drugs for five to 10 years, depending on how likely the cancer is to return. In some instances, aromatase inhibitors are given before breast cancer surgery to shrink the tumor, which makes it easier to remove. The costs of these medications can vary considerably based on your insurance coverage.

• Aromatase inhibitors work by binding to aromatase and preventing aromatization from occurring.
• There are other Questions to Ask Your Doctor resources on many different breast cancer topics you may wish to download.
• They can recommend other treatments and healthy ways to feed your child.

Hormone receptor-positive buy anabolic steroids for weight loss legal in USA breast cancers need estrogen (a female hormone) to grow. A 2020 article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that 79 to 84 percent of breast cancers test positive for estrogen receptors. It’s not usually recommended for women with breast cancer. For other women, it’s only recommended at the lowest dose, for the shortest time needed, to ease menopausal symptoms [94].

But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. Serious side effects from Aromasin can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects, call your doctor right away. However, if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number. If you have breast cancer, your doctor may prescribe Aromasin for you. Advise your oncologist about any medications you are taking, whether they are pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, recreational, or traditional to avoid drug interactions.

The cost of hormone therapy can be an important consideration when working with your healthcare provider on a treatment plan. The costs can vary between these kinds of drugs, which may influence your decision. AIs are also used in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Postmenopausal women with metastatic, HR+ positive breast cancer should be offered AIs as first-line endocrine therapy, based on ASCO guidelines. Hormone therapy with tamoxifen and/or an aromatase inhibitor is prescribed for 5-10 years.

Provider: HealthWell Foundation Copay Program

Your first step should be to talk to your healthcare provider and ask about generic options. Share your concerns about affording medications with your prescriber. Many women are prescribed hormone therapy for five to 10 years, so the cost can be an important consideration. Tamoxifen is the oldest and most prescribed hormone therapy. After primary treatment for breast cancer, there is a risk of recurrence, when the cancer is in remission (no detectable cancer) and then comes back.

Taking Aromasin with other drugs

In addition, some insurance companies will cover one type of hormone therapy but not another. Check your insurance coverage and discuss your options with your doctor. After you get a recommended treatment plan from your health care team, study your treatment options.