(NAPSI)-For many, the battle with breast cancer does not end with initial treatment. The public announcement by Elizabeth Edwards that her breast cancer has returned and is now in her bones has raised awareness among breast cancer patients. The spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body can increase the likelihood that a woman may die from the disease.| Take Action |
To ensure early detection of breast cancer, adopt three prudent habits:
Do a monthly breast self exam (BSE)
Have a mammogram yearly
Schedule an annual physician exam | |
With more than two million Americans living with breast cancer, newly published data in the Annals of Oncology offer some hope in the battle against early breast cancer recurrence.
According to the published data, women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer are more likely to benefit from an anti-estrogen treatment, such as Femara (letrozole tablets), in the first two years of treatment than with the standard therapy, tamoxifen. In the study, patients treated with Femara, an aromatase inhibitor, were 30 percent less likely to develop distant metastases in that time.
Femara is a once-daily oral prescription medication approved for the adjuvant (following surgery) treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. The benefits of Femara in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment. Further follow-up will be needed to determine long-term results, including safety and efficacy. It is also approved for certain cases of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The most commonly reported adverse events for Femara include hot flashes and joint and muscle pain.
"While this data doesn't suggest an overall survival advantage, this study helps confirm that postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer may be able to greatly reduce their risk of a breast cancer recurrence through treatment with an aromatase inhibitor," said Gary Frenette, M.D., PhD, Medical Oncologist, Carolinas Medical Center.
Knowing one's own personal risk of recurrence and specific health factors can help further ward off potentially dangerous metastases in the future. Women with breast cancer should discuss appropriate treatment options to help reduce the risk of recurrence with their health care professional.
For more information about these medications, please talk to your doctor and visit www.Femara.com or www.NovartisOncology.com.
