This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.
Anastrozole is a medicine that works by lowering the level of oestrogen (a hormone) in your body.
It's mainly prescribed for women who have been through the menopause and have a type of cancer called hormone-dependent breast cancer.
Most people who take anastrozole will have had surgery, radiotherapy or sometimes chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer first. Anastrozole is an additional (adjuvant) treatment which helps stop the cancer coming back.
It can also be used:
- to prevent breast cancer if you're high risk and have been through the menopause
- to treat breast cancer in men
- to treat breast cancer in younger women before the menopause
Anastrozole is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets.
View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.
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