Why women with Breast Cancer quit aromatase therapy

Just over a third of postmenopausal women who are treated for estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer using drugs such as Arimidex (anastrozole), from AstraZeneca, and Aromasin (exemestane), from Pfizer, that help prevent the disease from recurring, quit early (before an average of 4.1 years) because of the medications� side effects, which are more severe and widespread than previously known. Clinicians consistently underestimate the side effects associated with treatment, according to lead investigator Lynne Wagner, professor in medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The symptom most likely to cause women to stop using the drugs was joint pain. Other side effects women reported as compromising their quality of life were hot flashes, decreased libido, weight gain, feeling bloated, breast sensitivity, mood swings, irritability and nausea. The women at highest risk for quitting the medications before the recommended five years are those who still are experiencing residual side effects from recent chemotherapy or radiation therapy when they start the aromatase therapy, according to the study.