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Southern Ocean County Hospital would like to thank everyone who e-mailed questions for this edition of Ask-The-Expert and would like to especially thank Dr. Chung for taking part in the program.

October : Breast Cancer

Question 1
I am a breast cancer patient. I finished chemotherapy and radiation in March. I was taking Femara for my treatment, but I was losing bone density too fast, specially in my legs. Right now the doctor prescribed aromasin. How effective is this drug in the treatment for breast cancer?

Femara, Arimadex and Exemestane fall into the classification of aromatase inhibitors. These hormone therapies are quite effective in the treatment of breast cancer. Unfortunately, they all have the side effect of bone loss and osteoporosis. Every patient on these drugs should be educated about this side effect, monitored and treated to prevent fracture. There is no good data that any of these agents are better or worse than the other. Furthermore, exemestane was originally thought to have less bone loss than the other aromatase inhibitors. Unfortunately in clinical trials this has not been proven.

Question 2
I am a six year survivor of breast cancer. I am on Ameradex after 5 years of tomox. I would like to know if I can take nutrition shakes with soy in them. Since I know they will help me feel stronger and better. They will also help me with the weight gain that I have been having for the last six years. Thank you.

Feel free to drink soy shakes with your Arimadex. I have seen no data to support that it will decrease the effectiveness of the drug.

Dr. Chung's answers are informational only and should not be used as a diagnosis or for treatment. Please talk to your physician about official diagnosis of your condition and treatment.