Your additional information helps, and now I understand your question better..thanks!
I'm sure you already know this (the reason for your question):
According to the NCI (National Cancer Institute), "the long term risks [beyond 5 years] of letrozole have not been fully evaluated."
As Susan mentioned, the research that you/your doctor are referring to (Letrozole as a "new" treatment for breast cancer; the latest findings were reported in 2003) and ongoing research on this subject is still being conducted by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).
The newest results (February 2008) are discussed by Dr. Chapman at the CCS. (click on orange link)
Dr. Chapman states (February 2008):
"New findings from a landmark breast cancer clinical trial involving the drug letrozole show that, in this group of patients, women were more likely to die from non-breast cancer-related causes than from breast cancer-related causes."
"The research team found that non-breast cancer related causes accounted for 60% of deaths. The top causes of death included: cardiovascular disease including stroke (15%), other malignancies (15%), infection (6%), multiple causes (5%), and non-cardiovascular organ failure (4%). The results were particularly striking for older women. Among women aged 70 years or older, non-breast cancer-related causes accounted for 72% of deaths. The new results are published in the February 12 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute." You can read the journal article here.
Dr. Chapman's email is listed as a contact: Correspondence to: Judith-Anne W. Chapman, PhD, National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group, Queen's University, 10 Stuart St, Kingston, ON, Canada (e-mail: [email protected]).
You may want to contact the CCS (or ask your physician to), and inquire about any more recent findings regarding long-term use of letrozole).
Also, the NCI journal (JNCI) is available for free online, and you can search by topic to review any new clinical findings. The language is "medical-speak", but the abstracts and conclusions are easily understandable, and at least is some more information from which you can ask your doctor to elaborate on.
Lastly, there are phone numbers and contact information to receive more information about "this study, breast cancer and letrozole" at http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/letrozoletamoxifenQandA (scroll down to #34). You can read #19 Q&A: How long should these women take letrozole?
"A: For women in the study, the plan was to give letrozole for five years. Because the study was halted early, there are very few women who have completed five years of letrozole. However, there are a large number of women who have safely completed three years. Therefore, the researchers feel able to recommend at least three years at this time. The researchers will continue to follow the women in the study and report on their tolerance of the drug as they complete the full five years of treatment."
To me, this means you can ask the researchers or CCS who have been "continuing to follow the women in the study about their tolerance of the drug", and if they have "completed and/or extended beyond the five years".
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Hi,
Your additional information helps, and now I understand your question better..thanks!
I'm sure you already know this (the reason for your question):
According to the NCI (National Cancer Institute), "the long term risks [beyond 5 years] of letrozole have not been fully evaluated."
As Susan mentioned, the research that you/your doctor are referring to (Letrozole as a "new" treatment for breast cancer; the latest findings were reported in 2003) and ongoing research on this subject is still being conducted by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).
The newest results (February 2008) are discussed by Dr. Chapman at the CCS. (click on orange link)
Dr. Chapman states (February 2008):
"New findings from a landmark breast cancer clinical trial involving the drug letrozole show that, in this group of patients, women were more likely to die from non-breast cancer-related causes than from breast cancer-related causes."
"The research team found that non-breast cancer related causes accounted for 60% of deaths. The top causes of death included: cardiovascular disease including stroke (15%), other malignancies (15%), infection (6%), multiple causes (5%), and non-cardiovascular organ failure (4%). The results were particularly striking for older women. Among women aged 70 years or older, non-breast cancer-related causes accounted for 72% of deaths. The new results are published in the February 12 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute." You can read the journal article here.
Dr. Chapman's email is listed as a contact: Correspondence to: Judith-Anne W. Chapman, PhD, National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group, Queen's University, 10 Stuart St, Kingston, ON, Canada (e-mail: [email protected]).
You may want to contact the CCS (or ask your physician to), and inquire about any more recent findings regarding long-term use of letrozole).
Also, the NCI journal (JNCI) is available for free online, and you can search by topic to review any new clinical findings. The language is "medical-speak", but the abstracts and conclusions are easily understandable, and at least is some more information from which you can ask your doctor to elaborate on.
Lastly, there are phone numbers and contact information to receive more information about "this study, breast cancer and letrozole" at http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/letrozoletamoxifenQandA (scroll down to #34). You can read #19 Q&A: How long should these women take letrozole?
"A: For women in the study, the plan was to give letrozole for five years. Because the study was halted early, there are very few women who have completed five years of letrozole. However, there are a large number of women who have safely completed three years. Therefore, the researchers feel able to recommend at least three years at this time. The researchers will continue to follow the women in the study and report on their tolerance of the drug as they complete the full five years of treatment."
To me, this means you can ask the researchers or CCS who have been "continuing to follow the women in the study about their tolerance of the drug", and if they have "completed and/or extended beyond the five years".
I hope this information helps!
May 17, 2009 - 7:50amThis Comment
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