Anastrozole

Anastrozole

Anastrozole is an Aromatase inhibitors which is a type of hormone therapy drug used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through a natural menopause (when periods stop).

It is a treatment for breast cancer that is hormone sensitive.

Anastrozole combined with Fulvestrant:

Adding fulvestrant to anastrozole improves overall survival in patients with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer compared with anastrozole alone

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(19)30217-7/fulltext#:~:text=Adding%20fulvestrant%20to%20anastrozole%20improves,analysis%20of%20the%20S0226%20trial.

[More on Fulvestrant in next week’s blog.] 

How anastrozole works

Oestrogen is a female sex hormone that is mainly made in the body’s fatty tissues after the menopause. Oestrogen encourages some breast cancers to grow.

Anastrozole works by lowering the level of oestrogen in the body. This can stop or slow the growth of breast cancer cells.

How you have it

You have anastrozole as tablets.

Try to take it at the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. You can take it before, with, or after food.

When you have anastrozole

The usual amount is one tablet a day. Anastrozole is a long term treatment.

Common side effects

• Headaches 

• Hot flushes

• Feeling sick 

• Skin rash

• Painful or stiff joints

• Tiredness and weakness (fatigue) 

• Loss of bone strength