Is there any research to show that Arimidex treats nonestrogen receptive breast cancer?

Hello Stacey,

In an initial search for any information or solid research on the use of Arimidex for treatment of non-estrogen-receptive breast cancer, I found nothing. It's important to find out why your mother's oncologist recommends this drug (is it because of the small amount of progesterone?) I'm interested in knowing why as well. And considering the side effects she's experienced, you're right -- you need to know what the true benefits of her taking the drug are. Discuss these questions in detail with her doctor, and if you still don't have all the answers, get a second opinion. Her doctor shouldn't have a problem explaining WHY he or she suggests a particular drug therapy.

Be sure to keep us posted on what you find out.

Best,

Maria

Stacey, I agree with Maria - the oncologist might be recommending Arimidex because of the slight vidence of being progesterone-receptive. And she's post-menopausal, which qualifies her for Arimidex; it's not effective pre-menopause. so maybe he's considering it a good "just in case" backup drug. But if she's having lots of issues with it, I'd have her get the doc to tell her exactly the risk of recurrence with/without it, then go from there. As usual, it's a case of weighing the risk against the side effect of the drug. good luck- PJH

Your doctor is the best person who can tell you if it will be effective and the right treatment for your mother's cancer.  Don't be afraid of asking, especially since she is experiencing  side effects - the risk may outweight the benefit. 

Speaking for myself, Arimidex is a lot like the drug Femara that I take.  I experience LOTS of side effects, and I can understand wanting to know exactly how it works. 

According to info I found for ARIMIDEX, it is approved for adjuvant treatment (treatment following surgery with or without radiation) of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

ARIMIDEX is also approved for the initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed following treatment with tamoxifen. Patients with hormone receptor-negative disease and patients who did not previously respond to tamoxifen therapy rarely responded to ARIMIDEX.

If side effects cause you serious discomfort, notify your doctor immediately. Don't stop taking any treatment your doctor has prescribed without talking to him or her first. In the early breast cancer clinical trial, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms, weakness, mood changes, pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, swelling of arms/legs, and headache. Fractures (including fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist) occurred more frequently with ARIMIDEX than with tamoxifen (10% vs 7%).  And yes, vaginal bleeding can be a side effect.

This is How Arimidex Works:

Hormones are chemical substances that are produced by glands in the body, which enter the bloodstream and cause effects in other tissues.  For example, the hormone testosterone made in the testicles and is responsible for male characteristics such as deepening voice and increased body hair.  The use of hormone therapy to treat cancer is based on the observation that receptors for specific hormones that are needed for cell growth are on the surface of some tumor cells.  Hormone therapies work by stopping the production of a certain hormone, blocking hormone receptors, or substituting chemically similar agents for the active hormone, which cannot be used by the tumor cell.  The different types of hormone therapies are categorized by their function and/or the type of hormone that is effected.

Arimidex is an aromatase inhibitor.  This means it blocks the enzyme aromatase (found in the body's muscle, skin, breast and fat), which is used to convert androgens (hormones produced by the adrenal glands) into estrogen. In the absence of estrogen, tumors dependent on this hormone for growth will shrink.

Hope that this explains to you how the medicine works, and what it is used for.  But

Good luck to both you and your mother.  I hope I was able to help clarify a few things.  If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask!

Angi