Faslodex chemotherapy is used to treat some types of metastatic breast cancer. Faslodex is a drug that is used for the hormonal treatment of this cancer. It can also be used for several other purposes that have not been mentioned here. Faslodex is the common name for Fulvestrant.

Uses of Faslodex: This is a hormonal therapy drug. It is used to treat cancer that is in its metastatic stage; that is, it has spread from the place where it originated, to the other parts of the body. It is usually used in post-menopausal women having this estrogen receptor cancer and in those who have not responded to other hormonal treatments.

How it Works: The two hormones in a woman’s body that play a vital part in the functioning of a women’s cells are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are produced naturally in the body of women. In order to receive these hormones, the breasts have receptors that signal to receive these hormones. The hormones then attach to these receptors.

In many women, the breast cancer cells have these receptors. When this happens, the breast cancer is termed as hormone receptive cancer. In these cases, the estrogen can cause the growth and development of the cancer. This causes the cancer to spread in the other parts of the body.

Faslodex binds these estrogen receptors, thereby blocking the hormone to the cancer cells. The estrogen receptors change their shape because of Faslodex. It also causes a decrease in the number of estrogen receptors. In order to find out if your tumor is hormone receptor positive, your doctor can do a test to find it.

Benefits of Faslodex: Faslodex is useful to treat patients in whom the cancer in whom the cancer has metastasized, or spread in the other parts of body and these patients do not respond to other hormonal treatments like tamoxifen or other chemotherapy drugs.

Administration of Faslodex: This drug is given as an injection in the muscle of the buttocks very slowly. It is usually given once in a month for a few months. Your doctor will decide the dosage and the duration of this drug.

Side Effects of Faslodex: There are many side effects of using this drug. However, all the patients who use this drug may not necessarily experience all the side effects mentioned here. The researchers also suggest that there is no evidence to prove that the more the side effect, the greater will be the effectiveness of the drug.

Common Side Effects include:

• Constipation
• Weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hot flashes
• Diarrhea
• Pain in the abdomen
• Mild pain at the site of the injection
• Pain in the bones
• Headache
• Sore throat

A patient can also experience other side effects related to chemotherapy.

Rare Side Effects include:

• Blood clots
• Vaginal bleeding
• Swelling or redness or pain of one leg
• Chest pain or shortness of breath

Although these symptoms are very rare, if you notice any of them, get in touch with your health care provider immediately. You can also ask about these symptoms to your doctor during or before the treatment with Faslodex starts.

Precautions for taking Faslodex:

Before you start with this treatment, make sure of the following things:

• If you ever had any allergies to the components of Faslodex, then inform this to your doctor. The symptoms of the allergic reaction include: swelling of the face, itching, swelling of the face, tongue or lips.
• If you have a liver problem, blood clots or bleeding disorder, or thrombocytopenia, then your doctor might alter the dosage or ask you to take some tests
• As Faslodex causes harm to an unborn fetus, you must inform your doctors if you are pregnant. You can also talk to them to know what birth control measures you can take to avoid pregnancy.
• If you are breast feeding, then ask if you can continue doing so when this treatment starts
• Inform your doctor if you are currently taking any other medicines. This will include over-the-counter, herbal medicines or medicines prescribed by other doctor. If you have to consume any other medicine like aspirin, do consult your doctors and seek their advice.

As mentioned earlier, Faslodex chemotherapy is used as a hormonal treatment for breast cancer. It is a hope for those who do not respond to other drugs. Although there are many side effects of this drug, there are benefits too. Ask  your health care provider for some self-care tips that could help in minimizing the side effects of the drug. Your health care provider can give you tips like taking medications for nausea regularly, avoid exposure to the sun, have a healthy and nutritional diet, avoiding alcoholic beverages, and take plenty of rest. Cooperate with your team of doctors and let them monitor your response to this drug. They will also monitor the blood count and the functioning of other organs.