Treatment with aromatase inhibitors like letrozole (Femara) can extend the length of time for a breast cancer recurrence or breast cancer spreading in the body. In one study, over 70% of women had a disease-free survival period for up to 8 years.
Full Answer
What is the prognosis of breast cancer treated with letrozole?
After a median of 8 years of follow-up from a large randomized trial, women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer who received 5 years of treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole were less likely to have their cancer recur or to die during follow-up than women who had 5 years of treatment with tamoxifen.
Can castration plus letrozole treat advanced male breast cancer?
One case in treatment of advanced male breast cancer with castration plus letrozole. Natl Med J China. 2004;84(3):202–202. Chinese. [Google Scholar] 65.
How can the efficacy of letrozole be enhanced?
The efficacy of letrozole can be enhanced by combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.
What is the difference between tamoxifen and letrozole for breast cancer?
Ellis MJ, Coop A, Singh B, et al. Letrozole is more effective neoadjuvant endocrine therapy than tamoxifen for ErbB-1- and/or ErbB-2-positive, estrogen receptor-positive primary breast cancer: evidence from a phase III randomized trial. J Clin Oncol. 2001;19:3808–3816. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 18.
How much does letrozole reduce risk of recurrence?
There was also a statistically significant 26% reduction in breast cancer–free interval events (3% absolute improvement) and a statistically significant 29% reduction in distant recurrences (1.8% absolute improvement) with letrozole, Dr. Mamounas reported at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Does letrozole prevent cancer returning?
In 2005, preliminary results from the trial showed that letrozole alone was better than tamoxifen at preventing early recurrences, and when given the option to cross over, 619 of the 2,459 women in the tamoxifen-only arm chose to cross over to receive letrozole.
What is the success rate of letrozole?
Success Rates of Letrozole and PCOS The clinical pregnancy rate was 22.5% for both groups, demonstrating that Letrozole with IUI is as effective in treating PCOS as other types of infertility requiring IUI and letrozole.
Does letrozole prevent metastasis?
The risk of death from breast cancer during that period was cut in half in those receiving letrozole. Treatment also reduced the risk of metastasis by 61 percent and appeared to prevent development of a new tumor in the opposite breast by 82 percent.
What type breast cancer has the highest recurrence rate?
Research suggests that estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is more likely to come back more than five years after diagnosis. In this study, the researchers looked at the risk of late breast cancer recurrence, meaning the breast cancer came back 10 or more years after diagnosis.
What are the chances of estrogen positive breast cancer coming back?
Studies have shown that estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer has a more drawn-out risk of recurrence compared to estrogen-receptor-negative disease. About 50% of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer recurrences happen 5 or more years after the initial diagnosis.
How can I make letrozole more effective?
Typically, Librach says patients who ovulate begin a course of letrozole on day three or four of their cycles and then ovulate about four to seven days after taking the last of five pills. Librach advises patients to have sex about one to three days before they ovulate.
What happens when you stop taking letrozole after 5 years?
Stopping letrozole Some people worry about stopping their treatment, but there's evidence that letrozole continues to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back for many years after you stop taking it. However, not taking the drug for the recommended time may increase the risk of your breast cancer coming back.
How do I know if letrozole is working?
How will I know if Letrozole is working? You may be asked to have a blood test during the menstrual cycle in which you are taking Letrozole. We usually take this blood sample on day 21 of your menstrual cycle and measure levels of the female hormone called progesterone. A level of 30 nmol/L or more is a good result.
Can you stay on letrozole indefinitely?
Women with breast cancer who are prescribed aromatase inhibitors (AI) such as Arimidex (anastrozole) and Femara (letrozole) don't need to take the medication for more than two additional years following the standard five-year treatment period, according to research presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer ...
How much does aromatase inhibitor reduce risk of recurrence?
Breast cancer recurrence was significantly reduced in the group who had received aromatase inhibitors instead of tamoxifen. Overall, the risk was reduced by an average of a fifth (21%).
Does letrozole increase life expectancy?
Life expectancy: The study found no differences between letrozole and the placebo in terms of life expectancy. Severe side effects: There was also no difference in terms of severe side effects. About 15 out of 100 women experienced these during the treatment.
When to give letrozole?
When letrozole is given. Letrozole is usually given after surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back or spreading. If you’re having chemotherapy or radiotherapy, your specialist will tell you when it’s best to start letrozole.
How long does it take to take letrozole?
This will depend on your individual circumstances, but letrozole is usually taken for five to ten years. Some people start taking letrozole after a few years of taking the hormone therapy drug tamoxifen .
How does letrozole work?
Letrozole works by reducing the amount of oestrogen made in the body. Some breast cancers are stimulated to grow by the hormone oestrogen. These are known as oestrogen receptor positive or ER+ breast cancers. Letrozole belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. 3.
What is the name of the drug that is used to treat breast cancer?
Letrozole is a drug used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause. You may also hear it called Femara, which is its best-known brand name. There are a number of other brands of letrozole, all of which contain the same dose of the drug. Men with breast cancer may be given letrozole, although another drug called tamoxifen ...
What to do if letrozole stops working?
If letrozole stops working, your specialist may prescribe another hormone drug. If you have any worries or questions about taking or stopping letrozole, you can call us free on 0808 800 6000 to talk through your concerns. 7. How it’s taken. Letrozole is taken as a tablet once a day, with or without food.
Is letrozole a drug?
Letrozole belongs to a group of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. 3. Who it’s suitable for. Letrozole is suitable for women who have been through the menopause and whose breast cancer is oestrogen receptor positive. Sometimes letrozole is given alongside a drug called goserelin (Zoladex) to women who haven’t yet been through the menopause.
Can letrozole be given before surgery?
It’s sometimes given before surgery to shrink a larger breast cancer. Letrozole can also be used to treat breast cancer that has come back ( recurrence ). It can also be given to treat breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body ( secondary breast cancer ), when it’s often given alongside another drug. 6.
Post-menopausal women
Letrozole is a drug used to treat breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause (post-menopausal).
Side effects
The study reported that the side effects of letrozole are an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Individual situation
The results of the study don’t automatically mean that someone taking letrozole should double the time they take it for. Treatment recommendations will depend on each person’s individual situation.
What is the best treatment for breast cancer?
Hormonal therapy (also called endocrine therapy) helps to prevent the growth of breast cancer cells that depend on hormones. Medicines used in this type of adjuvant treatment are typically the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), like tamoxifen, or aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as Femara. These agents block the ability of estrogen ...
What is the name of the drug that is used to treat breast cancer?
Aromasin (generic name: exemestane) and Arimidex (generic name: anastrozole) are other aromatase inhibitors. Femara is used to treat postmenopausal women to: reduce the risk of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back after surgery and other treatments. reduce the risk of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer ...
How long does Femara last?
In one study, over 70% of women had a disease-free survival period for up to 8 years.
How long does Femara take to spread?
In this study, the majority of women receiving Femara went about 9.4 months without their cancer worsening or spreading. This is compared to 6 months for the women receiving tamoxifen.
How long does hormone therapy last?
These are oral medications taken as a daily pill for 5 to 10 years.
Is Femara better than Tamoxifen?
The results showed that Femara was better than tamoxifen for: increasing the time before the cancer comes back in those who experience recurrence. reducing the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Disease-free survival is the time after starting treatment when there is no sign of cancer returning.
Is tamoxifen better than letrozole?
Results have shown that AIs are better than tamoxifen treatment in prolonging the time until a breast cancer comes back ...
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
you have a primary cancer, has your cancer spread elsewhere and therefore you have secondary cancer?
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
Hi I’m 52 and had a missed diagnosis in 2016 I was diagnosed with BC Feb 2018 I have had a double mastectomy both breast was my choice as I didn’t want to go through that again I’ve had chemo and radiotherapy and my axillary nodes removed I started letrozole last month and experiencing all the symptoms and I feel are the symptoms worth it Does anyone know whet the % is for extended life for taking letrozole?.
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
Hi moijan, I was first diagnosed with bc ( her2 - er + ) in November 2012 and was put on tamoxifen. Unfortunately in May 2015 it had spread to my bones and I was then put on letrozole. Could I please ask when your primary was, and where about’s are your secondaries?
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
Hi ladies, ''just a few words of encouragement here....whichever drug you are on now...you are doing your very best to fight this scourge and I want to express my admiration. I was was told I could stop my letro and I did, and the bc came back....if I could have that time again...my choice would have been to stay on it......... ''you are all...whichever drug you happen to be on....following advice and that gives you an improved chance..because you know you are doing the best you can.- what more can you do? try to avoid too much stress, too much sugar and too much alcohol..........and....after Xmas.
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
Its nice to read that letrozole can work for years, i have only just started taking it after my secondaries diagnoses three months ago.
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
Thank you Kay and Moijan! I have just had my results - they found 30mm of DCIS but cannot find my primary! The DCIS is er/pr neg so Letrozole would not have stopped it anyway!
Re: How long has letrozole worked for you ?
i have also been on exemastane and it did only work for 2 months I could not have it with the everolumiseb (spelt wrong) combo as I have had too many other treatments perhaps you could ask about the combo I think you could have had 1 chemo and 1 hormone to be eligible for it
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
Hi, my first post! I have had a knee op, expecting another knee replacement in few months. I have just finished radiotherapy after breast surgery , and have been given Letrozole. I have psoriatic arthritis, the stress of the cancer diagnosis bought on a massive flare of the arthritis, am in lot of pain.
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
My referral was mucked up so I am not seeing the oncologist until the 10 September. Happy to share how I get on.
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
Do you know what your oncologist took account of in your personal risk profile? How did you get on with the oncology dietian? My hospital do not do referrals to a dietian.
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
It is so difficult isn't it. I was referred for a second opinion with another oncologist in a hospital in the city where I live only to rock up and find that I had been referred to a breast cancer surgeon. I had waited 7 weeks for that appointment and I cried. I have an appointment on the 10 September with another oncologist.
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
I've got an appointment on September 20th to discuss this drug, I'm really in two minds about it.
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
I was on Letrozole for 3.5 years and recently came off them as I was having a knee replacement! I discussed taking a break with my oncologist back in February and will review the situation next February.
Re: Assessing Risk of not taking Letrozole - NHS Predict and Oncotype Test?
It was great to see your post. Finally someone else who wants to explore risk and question the merits of Letrozole! Apart from the NHS predict tool what other ways did your oncologist assess your personal risk profile? Also interested in your appointment with the oncology dietian - what changes did he or she suggest?
