Your well-being

Stay informed, stay positive

Arm yourself with knowledge, and work with your doctor to make a plan of action that includes eating healthier and becoming more active. And, while continuing to take your medication is an important part of your ongoing breast cancer treatment, maintaining a positive attitude and letting yourself enjoy life are important too. Your attitude can have a big effect on your life.

Stay vigilant about your health

It's important to do everything you can to stay healthy and help reduce the risk of your breast cancer coming back. Stay vigilant about your health by continuing to do the following:

Stick to your hormonal treatment plan

The greatest risk of early breast cancer coming back is within the first five years following the initial diagnosis. That’s why many women continue to take adjuvant hormonal treatment for a full five years to help reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Get regular mammograms according to doctors' orders

Although mammograms won't reduce your risk of recurrence, it is important to always remain vigilant about early detection—even after you've been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mammography is an important tool to help doctors track your disease.

Important Safety Information About ARIMIDEX

Prescription ARIMIDEX is only for postmenopausal women. ARIMIDEX should not be taken if you are pregnant because it may harm your unborn child. Do not take ARIMIDEX if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Based on information from a study in patients with early breast cancer, women with a history of blockages in heart arteries (ischemic heart disease) who take ARIMIDEX may have a slight increase in this type of heart disease compared to similar patients who take tamoxifen
ARIMIDEX can cause bone softening/weakening (osteoporosis) increasing the chance of fractures. In a clinical study in early breast cancer, there were more fractures (including fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist) with ARIMIDEX (10%) than with tamoxifen (7%)
In a clinical study in early breast cancer, some patients taking ARIMIDEX had an increase in cholesterol. Skin reactions, allergic reactions, and changes in blood tests of liver function have also been reported
In the early breast cancer clinical trial, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms (including arthritis and arthralgia), weakness, mood changes, pain, back pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, rash, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fractures, swelling of arms/legs, insomnia, and headache
In advanced breast cancer trials, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX versus tamoxifen include hot flashes, nausea, decreased energy and weakness, pain, back pain, headache, bone pain, increased cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and swelling of arms and legs. Joint pain/stiffness has been reported in association with the use of ARIMIDEX
ARIMIDEX should not be taken with tamoxifen or estrogen-containing therapies

Approved Uses for ARIMIDEX

ARIMIDEX is approved for adjuvant treatment (treatment following surgery with or without radiation) of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer.

ARIMIDEX is approved for the initial treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-unknown locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer and for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that has progressed following treatment with tamoxifen. Patients with hormone receptor-negative disease and patients who did not previously respond to tamoxifen therapy rarely responded to ARIMIDEX.

For more information, see your doctor.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

This site is intended for US consumers only.

ARIMIDEX is a registered trademark and AZ&Me is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.