Anastrozole

The generic name for Arimidex^®, anastrozole is indicated for the initial adjuvant (following surgery) treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. Anastrozole works by reducing the amount of estrogen in the body.

Anastrozole is also indicated for first-line hormonal treatment of women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. For women with advanced breast cancer, anastrozole is also approved for treatment following tamoxifen therapy and progression of the cancer.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), your dedicated team of cancer experts will help you determine if anastrozole is the right treatment option for you. As part of our personalized approach to treatment, a powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies may be recommended to meet your specific needs. If anastrozole is selected as part of your treatment, you will be well informed of its side effects and the expectations following treatment.

Discover how, at CTCA, our unique approach to treatment works to fight cancer on all fronts. Chat now with an Oncology Information Specialist for more information.

Some of the common side effects associated with anastrozole treatment include the following:

• Hot flashes
• Weakness
• Mood changes
• Joint symptoms
• Pain
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Depression
• Osteoporosis
• High blood pressure
• Swelling of arms and legs

In addition to these common side effects associated with anastrozole, fractures (including those of the spine, hips and wrists) were more common with anastrozole treatment when compared with tamoxifen treatment (10 percent versus 7 percent).

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. Patients may experience additional effects not mentioned above.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), your team of cancer experts will explain each of the side effects of anastrozole with you in detail, as well as the side effects and expectations of all other medications planned as part of your individualized treatment. Our unique approach to cancer treatment ensures that you remain at the center of everything we do. We want you to be comfortable with all decisions made during your treatment.

Anastrozole is approved for the initial adjuvant (following surgery) treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. When compared with tamoxifen, a separate breast cancer treatment medication, anastrozole was shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of recurrence in the early stages of breast cancer.

Approved for the initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-unknown or hormone receptor-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, anastrozole works by blocking aromatase, an enzyme responsible for increased levels of estrogen in postmenopausal women. By reducing levels of estrogen, anastrozole helps to inhibit the growth of tumors.

Anastrozole is also approved for treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer whose disease has progressed following initial tamoxifen treatment.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), your doctors will determine if you are a candidate for treatment with anastrozole. As part of our unique approach to cancer treatment, we will educate you about treatment options. Together, we will create a cancer treatment plan customized to your needs. We will encourage you and your family members to participate in creating this plan and ensure that you fully understand, and are comfortable with, anticipated treatment methods.

Learn more about our whole-patient approach to treatment. Contact an Oncology Information Specialist today at 1-888-841-9129 for more information.