femara vs arimedex

I have to start by saying that I am a practicing family doctor in the Uk. I am asking as a breast cancer patient. I am advised by my oncologist to go on an aromatase inhibitor. In the UK Anastrazole is used as first line. Naturally  I wanted to explore the difference between it and Letrozole/ Femara. I found a paper by Novartis which found an over all improved survival rates as compared to tamoxifen. I could not find similar reseach on Anastrazole

I will try and copy bits of this paper below . What is your practice?

Femara* first aromatase inhibitor to indicate survival benefit versus tamoxifen when taken for five years after breast cancer surgery
    <>"These data reinforces the use of Femara(*) in adjuvant treatment of early
breast cancer in post-menopausal women. No other aromatase inhibitor in the
upfront adjuvant setting has suggested this level of improvement in overall
survival versus five years of tamoxifen," says Dr. Kathleen Pritchard, Senior
Scientist, clinical epidemiology - cancer program, Sunnybrook Research
Institute (SRI), in Toronto, Ontario


Please let me know if this paper has changed your practice> thank you

[healingwell62]

Hi river,

Thanks for your questions.  You might consider posting this on the "Ask the Expert" forum.  Hopefully you can get a physician's opinion there!

Let me know if we can help you in any other way.

Warmly,

Chris
Healingwell62
Breast Cancer 1 & 2 Community Leader