CA
A 36-year-old member asked:
Are there people who should not take femara (letrozole) for breast cancer?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: Femara (letrozole) is only effective for hormone-sensitive (estrogen receptor +) breast ca patients. Drugs like femara, called aromatase inhibitors, act by blocking the conversion of aromatase to estrogen in the body; it has no effect on estrogen production by the ovaries. Therefore, these drugs are not effective in pre-menopausal women.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. William A Biermannanswered
Medical Oncology 48 years experience
Premenopausal women: This is an aromatase inhibitor. This class of drugs is not effective for premenopausal women. It is used in the adjuvant setting and occasionally for metastasis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 46-year-old member asked:
How effective is letrozole (Femara) for treating breast cancer?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 46 years experience
Variable: Depends on 1) whether the tumor is estrogen receptor positive, 2) stage of the cancer. If metastatic, it works better for bone and soft tissue metastases and not very well for liver and lung metastasizes. Often used as an adjuvant treatment after surgery and often with radiotherapy
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 25, 2020
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$44 video appointments with $19/month membership*
*Billed $57 every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.