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Arimidex
(generic name, anastrozole)
Arimidex
(generic name, anastrozole) was FDA approved in 1996 to treat advanced
(metastatic) breast cancer patients who have not responded well to treatment with
the drug, tamoxifen. Clinical
trials are currently underway to determine whether women with advanced breast cancer
would benefit more from taking Arimidex than tamoxifen. Arimidex is usually taken orally
in pill form.
Possible side effects of Arimidex
include:
- General feeling of weakness
- Decreased energy level
- Headache
- Nausea
- Mild diarrhea
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Sweating
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Temporary hair thinning
Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on
Arimidex (courtesy of AstraZeneca).
Aromasin
(generic name, exemestane)
Aromasin
(generic name, exemestane) was FDA approved in 1999 to treat advanced (metastatic) breast
cancer in post-menopausal women. Aromasin works by binding to the body’s aromastase
enzyme, an enzyme responsible for producing the hormone, estrogen. Many breast cancer
cells depend on estrogen to grow and multiply quickly. Once aromasin has binded to the
aromastase enzyme, estrogen cannot be produced by the enzyme. This lack of estrogen
"starves" cancer cells, preventing them from growing. Aromasin is usually taken
orally in pill form.
Possible side effects of Aromasin
include:
- Hot flashes
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Increased sweating
- Increased appetite
A 2007 study found that some breast cancer patients that take Aromasin (ore Femara) experience side effects such as
joint and muscle pain and more than 10% of the patients in the study stopped treatement due to these effects. The
researchers are investigating alternative treatments or methods to managing side effects in such patients. They
suggest that tamoxifen may be a better choice for treatment of women who experience these side
effects. Click here for more information.
Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on
Aromasin (courtesy of Pfizer).
Chemotherapy Regimens
Examples of chemotherapy combinations used to treat breast cancer include:
- cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), methotrexate (Amethopterin, Mexate, Folex), and fluorouracil (Fluorouracil, 5-Fu, Adrucil) (this therapy is called CMF)
- cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and fluorouracil (this therapy is called CAF)
- doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide (this therapy is called AC)
- doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide with paclitaxel (Taxol)
- doxorubicin (Adriamycin), followed by CMF
- cyclophosphamide, epirubicin (Ellence), and fluorouracil
(the brand name of the drug is shown in parenthesis)
Other chemotherapy drugs commonly used for treating women with breast cancer include
docetaxel (Taxotere), vinorelbine (Navelbine), and
gemcitabine (Gemzar), and capecitabine (Xeloda).
*Source: American Cancer Society
The side effects a breast cancer patient experiences while undergoing
chemotherapy vary significantly depending on several factors, including the
types of drugs used, their dosages, and the duration of treatment. The
benefits of treating cancer with chemotherapy drugs outweighs the risk of
complications for most women, and effects are often tolerable with proper
care and rest.
Click here for detailed
information on chemotherapy for breast cancer patients.
Cytoxan
(generic name, cyclophosphamide)
Cytoxan (generic name,
cyclophosphamide) is a chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat breast cancer and other
cancers. Like Adriamycin, Cytoxan first
disrupts cancer cells, then destroys them. Cytoxan
is taken in tablets by mouth or intravenously (through the vein) over 30-60 minutes.
Common side effects may include:
- Decreased white blood cell count with
increased risk of infection
- Hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Sores in mouth or on lips
- Diarrhea
- Ceasing of menstrual periods
Ellence
(generic name, epirubicin)
Ellence (generic name, epirubicin) was
approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat early-stage breast cancer
after breast surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)
in patients whose cancer has spread to the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes. Ellence helps
reduce the likelihood that breast cancer will return (recur)
and improves a patient’s chances of survival. Ellence is given intravenously (through
the vein) in combination with two other chemotherapy drugs,
cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil.
Possible side effects of Ellence
include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Inflammation of the mouth (stomatitis)
Hair loss
- Reduction in white blood cells
(myelosuppression)
Click here for additional information and full prescribing information on
Ellence (courtesy of Pfizer).
Evista
(generic name, raloxifene)
Evista (generic name, raloxifene) belongs to a group of drugs called SERMs (selective estrogen-receptor
modulators). Raloxifene was approved in December 1997 by the FDA to prevent osteoporosis. In
2007, based on results of several clinical trials, the FDA approved Evista to reduce the risk
of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women
at high risk for invasive breast cancer. The trials showed that Evista reduced the risk of
invasive breast cancer by 44 to 71 percent.
Despite these positive results, women should be aware that Evista can cause serious side effects
including blood clots in the legs and lungs, and death due to stroke. Women with current or
prior blood clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes should not take Evista. Other potential side effects include:
- hot flashes
- leg cramps
- swelling of the legs and feet
- flu-like symptoms
- joint pain
- sweating
The FDA cautions that Evista should not be taken by pre-menopausal women and women who are or may become
pregnant because it may cause harm to the unborn baby. In addition, Evsita should not be taken with
cholestyramine (a drug used to lower cholesterol levels) or estrogens. Finally, the FDA also warns
that raloxifene does not provide complete prevention against breast cancer. Women should continue to
get annual mammograms and clinical breast exams.
More information about Evista, including prescribing information, can be found on the Eli and
Lilly website at http://www.evista.com/
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