FARESTON (TOREMIFENE)

Fareston Description

Some postmenopausal women facing advanced hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer may be prescribed Fareston for their hormonal therapy treatment. Fareston is an anti-estrogen medication, also called a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Hormonal therapy is not the same as hormone replacement therapy which is to raise estrogen, hormonal therapy with Fareston is to lower estrogen levels that some cancer cells ‘feed on’ to grow.

Ask Your Physician About Fareston to Battle Breast Cancer Cells

The active ingredient of Fareston is called Toremifene and when taken as directed will work to block the effects of the estrogen hormone found in your breast tissue by binding to estrogen receptors. With Fareston blocking the receptors, estrogen cannot attach to a breast cell so this hormone is unable to signal the cells, including the cancer cells, to grow and multiply.

Some Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

There is no straight answer as to why perfectly healthy cells can develop into mutated cells due to damaged DNA. These cells can begin to multiply rapidly and form a mass of tissue (tumor) and progress into breast cancer. Some cancer cells are often fueled by your own healthy body chemicals, including estrogen. A pathology report can identify whether the cancer is caused by a genetic mutation of hormones and a treatment plan will be put into action.

Genetic risk factors that put you at a higher risk for cancer include age, gender, ethnicity, and family and personal history. Nothing can be done to change any of the genetic factors, but you can be aware of the environmental and lifestyle risk factors beforehand and avoid them as much as you can. These include a sedentary lifestyle with very little physical activity, a poor diet, being overweight, and drinking alcohol on a regular basis.

Before Fareston is Prescribed for You

Discuss other medical conditions or allergies with your doctor and list any current OTC or Rx drugs you currently take or use, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements so it can be determined if Fareston is safe for you to take. If you are not past menopause and have been prescribed Fareston, take a pregnancy test as this drug could be harmful to your unborn baby.

Fareston Precautions

Until you know how Fareston will affect you, do not drive or perform any task that requires you to be alert and steady on your feet. Do not change the dosage of Fareston without first talking to your doctor. Keep Fareston out of children’s reach and never share your meds with others, even if they have the same symptoms.

Possible Side Effects of Fareston

• Nausea or vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Hot flashes