Breast Cancer

Recently there has been a question of whether Propecia breast cancer in men is linked to the long-term use of this popular drug. Propecia (finasteride) is a medicine prescribed to millions of men to help prevent hair loss, but like many medicines, it can cause side effects. Some are short-term, but others may be long-term or even permanent. Knowing what symptoms are normal is key in managing your health while on Propecia.

About Propecia

Propecia, known as The Hair Loss Pill, is used to treat male pattern baldness, a thinning or lessening of the hair on the crown of the head. Male pattern baldness occurs in many men by the time they reach the age of 50. Scientists believe a combination of genetics and hormones play a role in determining who develops male pattern baldness.

Propecia was approved by the FDA in 1997, and the once a day pill was welcomed as an easy way to grow or re-grow hair. The medicine worked by blocking a hormone that is found in the scalp that thinned the hair follicles, making it hard for hair to grow long or thick. The results from the medication were impressive: 9 in 10 men who used Propecia saw positive results.

Long-term Propecia Side Effects

For some men, the sexual side effects from Propecia linger long after the drug is discontinued. In one study, a group of men experienced sexual side effects for an average of 40 months after they stopped taking Propecia.

This group of men had a lack of desire for sex, difficulty achieving erections and difficulty reaching orgasm. At the time of the study, some men were still having problems, which means that their conditions may not just be long-term, but permanent.

Propecia Breast Cancer
Propecia male breast cancer has been reported in men using this drug. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published an article titled “Male Breast Cancer During Finasteride Therapy”. The authors of this article found that there was evidence of Finasteride breast cancer in men using Propecia. In addition, they urged that the FDA require warning information regarding the potential link between Propecia and breast cancer.

Tests and procedures used to detect male breast cancer include:

Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues from the abnormal area so they can be examined by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer.

Different types of biopsies:

• Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy

• Core biopsy

• Excisional biopsy

Estrogen and progesterone receptor test: A test to measure the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in cancer tissue.

HER2 test: A test to measure the amount of HER2 in cancerous tumors.

Are Your Side Effects Normal?

Consider any unusual symptoms you may feel, even if the side effect is not listed on the literature. Just recently, for example, Merck added depression as a new potential side effect, so the company may be recognizing more side effects including finestaride breast cancer.

Determine if the side effects are infrequent, intermittent, or constant. Consider if any other events or activities could contribute to them.

Next, determine how much of an issue they present. Do they prevent you from maintaining your normal life style? Do you find yourself avoiding activities that you used to do? Are your relationships affected by these side effects?

Be sure to talk with your doctor about these concerns.

If you have stopped using Propecia, but continue to have sexual side effects or have been diagnosed with male breast cancer, contact us. We are currently investigating lawsuit claims for men like you, who may have been permanently injured after using Propecia. There is a limited time to file a Propecia lawsuit. For a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation, please contact us today.