hI,
I was prescribed Anastrozole following a mastectomy due to breast cancer. I developed side effects including painful joints and flushing and have now been offered Tamoxifen which I am tolerating much better. I wondered if you could explain the different ways these drugs work and is there a bigger benefit to taking one rather than the other.
many thanks
catherine
Hi Catherine G.
Thanks for getting in touch with us and welcome to our online community, I hope you find it supportive.
Hormone therapy for breast cancer work by lowering the amount of oestrogen which is mainly produced in the ovaries. In hormone receptive breast cancer oestrogen is used to help a breast cancer grow. Unfortunately the symptoms you have mentioned are common side effects of these drugs which can affect people in different ways. Even though all hormone therapies have similar side effects, some people have milder symptoms on one drug than another.
Anastrozole is usually prescribed for women who have breast cancer that have been through the menopause. Even though their ovaries have stopped producing oestrogen, there is still a small amount produced by fatty tissues in the body. This process is caused by an enzyme called aromatase. Anastrozole is one of 3 aromatase inhibitors. Breast Cancer Now has more information about these drugs you might find helpful to read.
Tamoxifen is more of an effective treatment while the ovaries are still making oestrogen and can be used to treat breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. You might want to read more about ovarian suppression and breast cancer.
Although breast cancer in men is not common, they can also be treated with hormonal therapy as they have a small amount of oestrogen in their bodies.
There was a post on our Breast cancer forum a few years ago that you might find interesting.
It’s difficult for us to know whether one treatment is better than the other in your individual situation. The best placed people to ask is your hospital team.
I hope this information is helpful.
Best wishes and take care
Sarah (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
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