Back to April 2004: Hormonal Therapy Updates
Femara for metastatic disease?
- Question from Valerie: What is the current research on the effectiveness of Femara on women who have been diagnosed with inoperable stage IV breast tumors?
- Answers —Sandra Schnall, M.D. : Interestingly, Femara was initially FDA-approved for metastatic cancer in the post-menopausal woman, so Femara has a good track record and efficacy in that population.
- Marisa Weiss, M.D., Breastcancer.org president and founder: In addition, for women who have stage III breast cancer because of a large mass in the breast or because of significant lymph node involvement, they may get significant shrinkage of the cancer using Femara prior to surgery. In this situation, the cancer may not have been operable or easily removed up-front, but with a good response to Femara or another hormonal therapy, the cancer may become operable.