How does it work?

Formestane is a medicine that is known as an aromastase inhibitor and it prevents the production of the female hormone called oestrogen. It does this by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme which is responsible for the conversion of androgens to oestrogens. Cancers form when some cells within the body multiply uncontrollably and abnormally. There are two types of cancer. Solid cancers where a lump forms e.g. the bone, breast, muscle, brain cells etc. divide and multiply abnormally. The second type are leukaemias and lymphomas where the blood cells divide and multiply abnormally. Other characteristics of cancer besides uncontrolled growth include the ability of these abnormal cells to invade other tissues next to them or to break away from the original site, travel through the blood or lymph, and establish a new cancer at a different site of the body. These are called metastases. Breast cancer can be classifed into oestrogen sensitive and oestrogen insenstitive cancers. Most breast cancer is sensitive to oestrogen. Sensitive cancer cells need oestrogen to stay alive and removal of oestrogen from the body or stopping any circulating oestrogen getting to the cancer cells can be effective at controlling or killing hormone senstive breast cancers. The production of oestrogen in postmenopausal women requires an enzyme called aromatase. Therefore as formestane blocks this enzyme it will decrease the levels of oestrogen in the body. Because there is less oestrogen to feed the cancer, the growth and the spread of the cancer is inhibited. Formestane is administered by deep intramuscular injection only.

What is it used for?

Advanced post-menopausal breast cancer

Warning!

Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar carefully during treatment as, when this medicine was new, no studies were performed in diabetics. Therefore, it is not yet known whether this medicine could affect blood sugar control.

Use with caution in

Diabetes

Not to be used in

Pre-menopausal women

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should not be used in pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Headache

Rash

Drowsiness

Muscle cramps

Retention of water in the body tissues (fluid retention), resulting in swelling (oedema)

Dizziness

Nausea and vomiting

Abnormal vaginal bleeding

Hot flushes

Pain at the injection site

Hair loss (alopecia)

Itching (pruritis)

Excessive hair growth on the face.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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