How does Arimidex affect sexuality?
Meet the Experts
Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D. is a renowned psychologist with a special interest in helping people resolve or manage their sexual problems, especially those problems connected with a chronic illness such as cancer.
Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N. is a hematology-oncology nurse at the Peterson Cancer Center of the Stanford Hospital in Stanford, California, and President of Cancer ACCESS, an advocacy and counseling organization for people affected by cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from Becca: How does Arimidex affect sexuality?
- Answer —Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: Arimidex is an aromatase inhibitor, which reduces the amount of estrogen produced in your body after menopause. It is used in women after menopause who have hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. There is a huge study going on right now that is looking at how Arimidex treats breast cancer and also how Arimidex affects quality of life. These important data will be available in about a year. Right now we don't have a good answer to your excellent question. If your doctor prescribed Arimidex for you and if you take it, keep tabs on how it's affecting you from all points of view.
On Wednesday, February 20, 2002, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Intimacy, Sex and Your Love Life. Leslie R. Schover, Ph.D., Debra Thaler-DeMers, R.N., O.C.N., P.H.N., and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about how to improve your sex life during and after breast cancer treatment.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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