Aromatase Inhibitors Are Effective In Fighting Cancer
Aromatase inhibitors may help in fighting cancer as they stop a key enzyme called aromatase from changing other hormones into estrogen. It works differently from other drugs that focus on blocking the oxygen receptors such as tamoxifen and raloxifene. This helps in lowering the levels of the estrogen hormone in the body denying the estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer fuel to grow.
Research has linked excess estrogen to various types of cancers such as the breast, prostate, lung, cervical, uterine, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. With the aromatase inhibitors the production of estrogen hormone is stopped. The aromatase inhibitors do not stop the production of estrogen hormone at the ovary and therefore they work only at post menopausal stage. As known the ovaries stops producing estrogen hormones after menopause and this may often lead to hormonal imbalance between the estrogen and progesterone hormones which is also known to cause cancer.
The dangers of excess estrogen in the body has been emphasized by oncologists who have advised women to maintain an ideal weight and shed extra fats as Enzyme, aromatase is found in fats, it converts the testosterone into estrogen hormones. The dominance of estrogen in the breasts tissues exposes you to breast cancer. The dangers of estrogen dominance are a lot and so it should be controlled. Let’s look at the implications of excess estrogen hormones.
Dangers of Excess estrogen
Cancer has been linked to estrogen dominance in the body. In a case where estrogen is excessively higher than the progesterone hormones in the body the hormonal environment in the body becomes conducive for the growth of cancer cells. Excess Estrogen hormones in the breast tissues are a major risk to breast cancer.
An imbalance between the progesterone and estrogen hormones is a major cause of cancer. The level of progesterone is always lowered during perimenopause and menopause stages as ovarian hormone production stops completely. When production of this hormone is reduced, the body will have high estrogen hormones hence exposing women to cancer. A key approach to cancer prevention is in ensuring a balance between the estrogen and progesterone hormone is achieved.
Artificial hormone xenoestrogen adds the estrogen activities in our bodies. We get this hormone in commercial dairy products that are from animals injected with growth hormones and it acts as estrogen in our bodies. It is also available in pesticides used to spray crops and unfortunately they end up in our bodies. When introduced in the body they inhabit fatty tissues like the breast tissues and hence favor growth of cancerous cells in the breast. This hormone is more poisonous than natural ‘estrogen dominance’ and it also poisons the DNA, unfortunately xenoestrogen cannot be easily removed from the body.
Some of the drugs that are known to function as estrogen inhibitors are;
I. Arimidex also known as anastrozole
II. Aromasin also known as exemestane
III. Femara also known as letrozole
Each is a pill, usually taken once a day. All three are available as generic medicines.
Benefits of aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors have been endorsed by researchers and cancer patients for use in treatment of various types of cancers. In a research study doctors compared the use of aromatase inhibitors and Tamoxifen to see which type of medicine was effective in treating cancer especially the early stage hormone receptor positive breast cancer in post menopausal women. The findings from this study favoured aromatase inhibitors and therefore the doctors recommended the use of aromatase inhibitors after initial treatment that is mostly through conventional cancer therapies like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
An aromatase inhibitor is the best hormonal therapy to start with. When treating Doctors have found that aromatase inhibitors are the best hormonal therapy. It was found that treating early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. This is because aromatase inhibitors have more benefits and has fewer side effects than tamoxifen.
Researchers have also proved that when a patient who has been on a tamoxifen for 2 to 3 years switches to aromatase inhibitors for a total of five years, he would benefit more than a patient who has been on five years of Tamoxifen.
The doctors have also recommended the use of aromatase inhibitors for another five years after a patient has been on Tamoxifen for initial five years. This will help the cancer patient to reduce the chances of cancer re-occurring. Therefore it should be taken even after treatment with Tamoxifen.
Some of the side effects of aromatase inhibitors
Researchers have shown that aromatase inhibitors tend to cause fewer side effects as compared to Tamoxifen. However aromatase inhibitors can also cause such side effects as blood clots, stroke, endometrial cancer, heart problems and osteoporosis. It may also cause more broken bones than Tamoxifen. It is therefore important to have a bone density test before you begin using the aromatase inhibitors. The doctors will advice you depending on the bone density test results whether to use bone strengthening medicine in the course of the aromatase inhibitor treatment.
Another common side effect of using Aromatase inhibitors is joint pains. However many people are not troubled with the joint pains after a 2008 British study revealed that women who experienced joint pains while under hormonal therapy medications were less likely to experience the coming back of the disease.
Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an experienced integrative cancer doctor that has helped many cancer patients in their fight against the disease. She has worked hard not only in treating the disease but also in availing informational support to cancer patients at Awaremed which has become a place called home for many cancer patients. Call on her now and get help on cancer.
Aromatase Inhibitors Are Effective In Fighting Cancer
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