Femara - Letrozle

Описание: Femara known generically as letrozole is a commonly prescribed drug to prevent recurrence of breast cancer and to treat localized disease. In the class of aromatase inhibitors, it functions to prevent male hormone produced in the adrenal gland from being converted into estrogen. Femara functions in breast cancers that contain estrogen hormone receptors – so called hormone receptor positive or HR positive tumors. About 80% of all breast cancers belong in this category.

Femara lacks the ability to combat estrogen arising from ovarian production. As a result its utility appears limited to postmenopausal women. This once a day oral drug is routinely prescribed for 5-10 years after initial surgical treatment in women deemed at moderate risk of recurrence. Newer investigations suggest a maximum of 7 years of therapy offers optimal advantages with very limited reason to continue afterward. It has largely replaced tamoxifen.

Cash price for generic letrozole remains higher than expected at about $10 a day with the brand name Femara well in excess of $700 a month. It replaced tamoxifen which still works quite well. Available only as a generic tamoxifen’s cash cost is only a modest $1 a day.