Is arimidex considered chemotherapy?

If you’re about to undergo treatment for breast cancer, your doctor may mention Arimidex as part of the plan. However, there is often confusion surrounding this medication, leaving many wondering if it falls under the category of chemotherapy. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Arimidex?

Let’s start with what Arimidex actually is. Arimidex (generic name: anastrozole) belongs to a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors. You might be thinking “what the heck are aromatase inhibitors?” Don’t worry; I was also confused at first! Essentially, these drugs work by blocking an enzyme called aromatase that converts androgens into estrogen – a hormone that can fuel some types of cancers like breast cancer.

The point here being that while chemotherapy uses different modes of action (like inhibiting cell division or targeting DNA), Arimidex specifically targets estrogen production.

What Drugs Fall Under Chemotherapy?

When we think about chemotherapy we typically associate it with IV infusions or pills prescribed to kill cancer cells throughout the entire body (systemic). This type of true chemo includes drugs such as paclitaxel (Taxol), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, and methotrexate amongst others.

As mentioned above – these particular chemotherapy medications use highly active chemicals that target fast-dividing cells throughout the body in order to stop/inhibit their growth or outright kill them depending on how far along they are in development.

Now contrast those things I mentioned above about true chemo into something milder like hormonal therapy with less serious consequences than traditional chemo. These methods aim at reducing/helping manage certain hormones responsible for product tumour generation/enhancement..its quite simple you see!

Hormone Therapy

Hormonal therapy (or endocrine therapy) blocks the body’s supply of estrogen to starve hormone-sensitive cancer cells. Hormonal treatments are only effective if your breast cancer is hormone receptor (HR)-positive, meaning the malignant tumours have taken up target hormones and use them for reproduction/development/proliferation.

Needless to say that Arimidex falls under hormonal therapy as stated above where it works by blocking the enzyme called aromatase responsible for producing estrogen which could fuel some types of cancers like breast cancer.

Arimidex Side Effects

As with all medications, there are side effects associated with taking Arimidex. These include things such as:

  • Hot Flashes / Night Sweats – Sudden warm sensations in face or upper body followed by sweating.
  • Joint Pain/Stiffness – perhaps on one side or both sides depending on its response per individual user
  • Mood Swings/Irritability/Sadness – Mood swings due to hormonal imbalances based on Skewed Estrogen levels
  • Blurred Vision | Headache
    and many more…

I dont know about you but I find it funny that a drug prescribed for hindering certain aspects not welcome in our bodies has alot of side-effects..that count as comedic?

So while it may not fall into true guidelines Chemical Therapy – It still very much does work hand-in-hand with traditional chemotherapy as well serves separate purposes in conjunction

Conclusion

In summary: no, Arimidex is not considered chemotherapy medication, however it can be used alongside chemo—at times complementing traditional treatments at other times working quite contently & safely alone strengthening quality care given the individuals indicted cases plus providing wider scope than just hoping round other therapy options – something we ought everyone diagnosed sought after!

That being said…please discuss with your healthcare provider regarding whether or not this option best suits you since presenting factors vary individually.

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