Prescription Drugs for Breast Cancer

Prescription drugs may be used in conjunction with another type of breast cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, or they may be used alone as directed by a doctor or healthcare professional. There are several different types of drugs available, and all have different indications and side effects.

Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is one type of prescription drug used to treat breast cancer. It is part of a hormone therapy regimen for women suffering from the disease. Since the presence of estrogen encourages the growth of cancerous cells in some women, they may choose to take Tamoxifen to lower or counteract these effects. Tamoxifen is taken as a pill and is designed to block the effects of estrogen on a woman’s body. The drug is usually taken for up to five years after the initial treatments for cancer, whether they be surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. The drug is taken for this extended period of time to continue blocking the effects of estrogen and to try to prevent the cancer from recurring. Like all drugs, however, Tamoxifen comes with the price of side effects. While taking the drug, some women reported early stage uterine cancer. The benefits of being closely monitored are that an early stage cancer of the uterine lining can usually be cured by surgery. Women taking the drug who experience unusually heavy vaginal bleeding should immediately consult their doctor, as this can be a sign of uterine cancer.

Women taking Tamoxifen have also reported mood swings and hot flashes. However, when these side effects are weighed against the potential to redevelop breast cancer, many women choose to take the drug. It is important, then, to remain carefully monitored to ensure the drug is working properly and remaining effective without serious side effects.

Aromatase Inhibitors

Similarly, aromatase inhibitors are prescribed to women who have had breast cancer. These drugs help to stop the woman’s body from producing estrogen. However, the drawback to these drugs is that they can only be used by women who have undergone menopause and have hormone-positive cancers. The drugs do not cause uterine cancer, although the lack of estrogen can result in a thinning of the bones.

This is a small sampling of some of the types of drugs available to women with breast cancer. There are many other types of drugs available, so discuss which drugs would be most effective to prevent or treat breast cancer with your doctor.