List of Aromatase inhibitors

For that reason, aromatase inhibitors are the preferred treatment for post-menopausal women with estrogen-fueled breast cancers. Note that breast cancer cell lines are a gold standard for studying estrogen blockers since these cells express high amounts of the estrogen receptor. Thus, in vitro research using cancer cells from breast tissue is a primordial stage in discovering natural aromatase inhibitors like grape seed extract.

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. After five years of use, an estimated one of out of every 10 women on aromatase inhibitors will experience a fracture due to drug-induced osteoporosis. Aromatase inhibitors differ from tamoxifen PT 141 in that tamoxifen binds to estrogen receptors on cells rather than to aromatase.

Can aromatase inhibitors lower the risk of breast cancer?

• A side effect of aromatase inhibitors and goserelin is bone thinning (osteoporosis) or weakening.
• In vivo and in vitro data suggest that DIM also has favorable effects on muscle growth, recovery, libido, mood, and overall well-being by balancing estradiol levels[13, 14].
• If you are starting treatment with an aromatase inhibitor you might have a DEXA scan first.
• Weight bearing exercise such as walking can help to build up the bones and protect them.

A breast cancer that’s sensitive to progesterone is called progesterone receptor positive, also called PR positive. Hormone therapy is only likely to work if the breast cancer cells have oestrogen receptors (ER). Your doctor checks your cancer cells for these receptors when you are diagnosed. That said, studies show breast cancer can come back as long as 20 years after treatment. If you’re receiving treatment for ER-positive breast cancer, ask your healthcare provider to explain your risk of late recurrence breast cancer.

Using an Estrogen Blocker

Aromatase inhibitor therapy has side effects that may affect your quality of life. If you’re taking an aromatase inhibitor, ask your healthcare provider about ways to reduce side effects so you can continue treatment that helps you live free of breast cancer. In people who have estrogen receptor positive tumors, the risk of recurrence does not decrease with time. In fact, a hormone positive early stage breast cancer is more likely to recur after five years than in the first five years. It’s thought that the risk of recurrence remains steady (the same chance of recurrence each year) for at least 20 years following the original diagnosis.

Studies show 95% of people who receive aromatase inhibitor therapy after breast cancer surgery don’t have breast cancer signs five years after completing treatment. Even more impressive, a number of clinical studies have suggested that aromatase inhibitors may be just as effective in preventing breast cancer as preventing breast cancer recurrence. In pre menopausal women, doctors might use a type of hormone treatment to stop the ovaries from producing oestrogen. These are called luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. For example, goserelin (Zoladex) and leuprorelin (Prostap, Lutrate). You might have this on its own or with other hormone therapy drugs such as tamoxifen or exemestane.