When Is Hormone Therapy Used For Breast Cancer
Hormone therapy is often used after surgery to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Sometimes it is started before surgery .
It is usually taken for at least 5 years. Treatment longer than 5 years might be offered to women whose cancers have a higher chance of coming back. A test called the Breast Cancer Index might be used to help decide if a woman will benefit from more than 5 years of hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy can also be used to treat cancer that has come back after treatment or that has spread to other parts of the body.
If I Stop My Lupron Depot Treatment Will I Have Withdrawal Symptoms
Stopping Lupron Depot isnt known to cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that may occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. With drug dependence, your body becomes used to a drug and needs it to function as usual.
Note that Lupron Depot takes a while to wear off after your last dose. Exactly how long depends on the dosage you received. So if you have side effects, you may continue to have them until the drug completely wears off and your body resumes making hormones.
Additionally, as your hormones increase to their natural levels, you may notice changes in your body. The symptoms of your condition may return or get worse. So before stopping treatment with Lupron Depot, its important to talk with your doctor. Theyll help you decide if another treatment plan would be better for you.
Your doctor will explain how Lupron Depot will be given to you. Theyll also explain how much youll be given and how often.
Lupron Depot And Lab Tests
You may have reduced levels of certain hormones in your body during your treatment with Lupron Depot. If you have any lab tests that look for hormones, the results of the tests may be incorrect.
Its recommended that you wait 3 months until after youre done with Lupron Depot treatment before having these tests. This way, the results are less likely to be incorrect. Talk with your doctor about any tests you have scheduled while taking Lupron Depot to ensure your lab results will be accurate.
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Lupron Depot And Alcohol
There are no known interactions between Lupron Depot and alcohol. However, if you drink alcohol regularly, you may have a higher risk for bone density loss. When used long term, Lupron Depot may also reduce your bone density if not taken with other treatments that can help prevent this side effect. Bone density loss may lead to a higher risk of fractures and breaks.
If you drink alcohol regularly, talk with your doctor about the risk of bone density loss with Lupron Depot.
Lupron Depot And Other Medications
There havent been any studies done to look at whether Lupron Depot can interact with other medications. However, its possible that Lupron Depot may interact with other medications.
Before taking Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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Ovarian Suppression Combined With Tamoxifen Or An Aromatase Inhibitor
Some younger, premenopausal women at high risk of breast cancer recurrence may benefit from treatment with ovarian suppression plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor .
Ovarian suppression alone is not a standard substitute for tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor.
Talk with your health care provider about whether ovarian suppression is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lupron
Generic Name: Leuprolide Trade Name: Eligard®, Lupron®, Lupron Depot®, Viadur®
How is Lupron® used? Lupron is FDA approved for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. It is important for patients to remember that physicians have the ability to prescribe medication for conditions other than those for which the drug has been approved by the FDA. Patients who have received a prescription of this drug for a condition other than which it is approved may wish to discuss this issue with their physician.
What is the mechanism of action? Lupron is classified as a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist. LHRH is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that is involved in stimulating the production of female and male hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Lupron inhibits the signaling of LHRH so that the production of estrogen or testosterone is reduced. Certain cancers, such as prostate cancer, are stimulated to grow from hormones. The reduction in the production of growth-stimulatory hormones inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
How is Lupron given ? Lupron is administered as an injection under the skin , into a muscle , or as an implantable device and the dose depends on several factors, including the condition being treated, the particular regimen being used and the overall health of the patient.
What are the common side effects of treatment with Lupron?
Hot flashes Impotence Erectile dysfunction
What are the less common side effects of treatment with Lupron?
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Questions About Lupron Depots Dosage
Below are some common questions about Lupron Depots dosage.
- What if I miss a dose of Lupron Depot? A healthcare professional will give Lupron Depot injections to you. If you miss your appointment, contact your doctors office as soon as possible to reschedule. Missing doses of this medication could cause your condition to get worse.
- Will I need to use Lupron Depot long term? Lupron Depot may be used short term or long term. How long youll receive this treatment depends on the condition its being used to treat.
- How long does Lupron Depot take to work? Lupron Depot begins working right away. But in the first 1 to 2 weeks, the drug may cause a short-term surge in your bodys testosterone or estrogen level. This may cause the condition being treated to get worse before it gets better. Within 2 to 4 weeks of starting treatment, your testosterone or estrogen levels should drop. When this occurs, you may start to feel some improvement in the symptoms of your condition.
Spinal Cord And Urinary Tract Problems
- Risk factors: History of spine problems | History of urinary tract problems
There are some cases of spinal cord compression, or pressure on the spinal cord, that has caused paralysis . Also, people who have a history of urinary tract problems can get a blockage in their urinary tract. This can lead to kidney damage. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history before starting Lupron Depot .
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How Does The Administration Of Leuprolide Affect Prostate Cancer Treatment
Testosterone is one of the sex hormones in the human body. Its especially important for the reproductive health of those assigned male at birth. Testosterone helps the prostate grow and mature. But prostate cancer cells can also use testosterone to grow. Thats where leuprolide can come in.
Leuprolide belongs to a medication class called gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists. GnRH agonists are sometimes luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists. These are the same thing.
These medications work by lowering the amount of testosterone the body makes. This cuts off the testosterone supply to the cancer cells.
For the first few weeks, leuprolide can actually raise testosterone levels. This is called a testosterone flare. This is a normal reaction while the body adjusts to the medication. Symptoms may worsen during the flare, but they tend to go away after a few weeks.
To combat a flare, healthcare providers can temporarily prescribe a medication to block testosterones effects. These antiandrogen medications can help prevent symptoms from worsening. Sometimes these are also called testosterone blockers. Once the testosterone flare is over, your provider will usually recommend that you stop taking the testosterone blocker.
Experts recommend using leuprolide for advanced prostate cancer that uses testosterone to grow. Leuprolide can help relieve pain and other symptoms when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. This is also called metastatic prostate cancer.
Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, leuprolide may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking leuprolide:
For adults
- Bone, muscle, or joint pain
- chest tightness
- numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes
- sudden, severe decrease in blood pressure and collapse
- trouble breathing
- Arm, back, or jaw pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- difficulty with moving
- increased urge to urinate during the night
- muscle pain or stiffness
- pain in the arms or legs
- pain in the joints
- waking to urinate at night
Rare
- Pain in the groin or legs
Incidence not known
- burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
- weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
For females only
- pain or redness at the injection site
- runny or stuffy nose
- Burning, itching, or swelling at the injection site
Incidence not known
For females only expected in first few weeks
Rare
- white vaginal discharge
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Side Effects Not Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Some side effects of leuprolide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
For adults
- Sudden sweating and feeling of warmth
Less common
- Bleeding, bruising, burning, itching, pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- swelling of the feet or lower legs
- swelling or increased tenderness of the breasts
- trouble sleeping
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- loss of appetite
- pain or discomfort at the injection site
- redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
- unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
Less common
- inability to have or keep an erection
Incidence not known
- Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- redness or other discoloration of the skin
- redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest
Less Common Types Of Hormone Therapy
Some other types of hormone therapy that were used more often in the past, but are rarely given now include:
- Megestrol acetate , a progesterone-like drug
- Androgens , like testosterone
These might be options if other forms of hormone therapy are no longer working, but they can often cause side effects.
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When Will I Get My First Period After Stopping Lupron Depot Treatment
You may get your period within 3 months after your last dose of Lupron Depot. But this can vary, depending on your dosage.
Lupron Depot commonly causes changes in your menstrual cycle, such as not having periods. This is because the drug stops your body from making hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. These hormones typically regulate the menstrual cycle. As Lupron Depot slowly wears off, your body will resume making these hormones and having periods.
If you have questions about what to expect during or after your treatment with Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Side Effects Of Surgery
Removing your ovaries makes you start menopause, if you haven’t started it yet. Menopause often has symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinating often, and having less interest in sex. And it raises your risk for other diseases, like heart disease and osteoporosis.
When your ovaries are removed, you can no longer get pregnant.
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Anyone Taking Lupron For Breast Cancer
My 42 year old daughter was diagnosed with stage 1 Grade 2 Invasive ductal carcinoma and extensive DCIS. She had mastectomy with reconstruction in April. She started on Tamoxifen in June and is to start Lurpon in August but is very nervous about the side effects of the Lupron. Does anyone have experience with this?
Hi @auksst, welcome. There are a few discussions in the Breast Cancer group on Tamoxifen. Here’s a couple of recent and relevant discussions that I think you’ll find useful: Tamoxifen Conflicted on taking medication
@johnvivian‘s wife took/takes Lupron for breast cancer. As you like know, Lupron is a LHRH agent hormonal therapy. Zoladex and Trelstar are also LHRHs. LHRHs shut down the ovaries and stop them from producing estrogen so there is less estrogen to fuel the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Lupron typically is used to reduce the risk of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back in premenopausal women after surgery and other treatments.
Will Lupron be added to tamoxifen or will it replace her taking tamoxifen? What side effect is she most concerned about?
Lupron Depot Vs Lupron Depot
Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped contain the same active drug, leuprolide acetate. Theyre used to treat different conditions in different age groups.
Lupron Depot is used in adults, and Lupron Depot-Ped is used in children.
This article discusses both Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped. Read on to learn about this medications dosage, side effects, uses, and more.
Like most drugs, Lupron Depot may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Lupron Depot may cause. These lists dont include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
The side effects of Lupron Depot might differ depending on the condition its being used to treat.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Lupron Depot. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
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Coping With Side Effects Of Anastrozole
Like any drug, anastrozole can cause side effects. Everyone reacts differently to drugs and some people have more side effects than others.
For many people, side effects improve within the first few months of starting the treatment. However, for some people they may cause distress and disrupt everyday life.
If you have any side effects, whether theyre listed here or not, talk to your GP or treatment team. They may be able to offer ways of improving your symptoms.
Your specialist may suggest changing to a different aromatase inhibitor such as letrozole or exemestane, or another hormone treatment, as some women get on better with a different drug.
Anastrozole is made by a number of different manufacturers. Some of the tablets may have different additional ingredients . This does not change the effectiveness of the treatment. Some people find anastrozole produced by one manufacturer seems to suit them better than another.
You may wish to discuss this with your treatment team or GP, or ask the pharmacist who dispenses your prescriptions if they can supply you with anastrozole from the manufacturer you feel suits you the best.
Aching Or Pain In The Joints And Muscles
Aching or pain in the joints and muscles is often mild and temporary, although for some people its more severe and longer lasting.
It can usually be relieved with mild pain relief like paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. Before using anti-inflammatory pain relief, ask your doctor about the correct dose, how long you should use it for and any possible side effects, especially if you have a stomach ulcer or asthma.
Exercise that gently stretches your joints or strengthens your muscles to better support your joints, such as yoga or pilates, may help improve your symptoms. Brisk walking can also be beneficial. A physiotherapist may also be able to suggest exercises to help. If you have secondary breast cancer, check with your specialist before starting any new type of exercise.
Some people benefit from switching to a different hormone therapy. For example, it may be possible to switch to another aromatase inhibitor to see if your pain improves, or some people might be offered the drug tamoxifen as an alternative.
If the pain is severe, it may be helpful to see a pain management specialist at a pain clinic.
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Side Effects Of Treatment
The side effects of hormone treatment depend on the drug that is used.
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators .
-
The most common side effects are hot flashes, mood swings, and feeling very tired. These drugs may also raise your risk for blood clots, stroke, and endometrial cancer.
- Aromatase inhibitors.
-
These can cause headaches, nausea, diarrhea, aching joints, and hot flashes. Using these medicines for a long time may cause bone thinning.
- GnRH agonists and LH-RH agonists.
-
These drugs can cause hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. They can cause less interest in sex, trouble sleeping, and headaches. Risks also include bone thinning.
- Fulvestrant.
-
Common side effects include nausea, lack of energy, and weight gain. It may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, headache, back pain, and hot flashes.
Will I Need To Use This Drug Long Term
How long you use Lupron Depot will depend on the condition its being used to treat.
If youre taking Lupron Depot for advanced prostate cancer, youll likely use it long term to ease your prostate cancer symptoms and to stop your prostate cancer tumor from growing.
Lupron Depot is not typically used long term for endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or central precocious puberty. How long its used for these conditions depends on how well it relieves symptoms and how severe the condition is. Your doctor can tell you more.
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