Nelsonferreira

Propecia/Proscar/FinasterideDr. Nelson Ferreira | 2115 Finch Ave. w. Suite 401 Toronto, ON M3N 2V6 | Finasteride/propecia/proscar is an excellent medication with a good safety record. Recent reports have expressed concerns of an increased of breast cancer in men. It appears that this probably represents a very, very small and rare side effect. It is very difficult to detect a rare side effect when that condition is already very rare in the general population. At this point no one knows for sure.
What to do:
At this time I will not be prescribing anymore Propecia/Finasteride even though I know it to be an excellent drug to slow down hair loss. I am waiting for more information. The ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons) will be putting out a position paper in the near future. Check out If you are taking finasteride/propecia/proscar you may want to consider stopping. If there is an increased risk of cancer it is very small; but, you may not want to take this risk. I have stopped taking the medication myself but I think this is very personal decision. If you have had excellent benefits from the medication, you will lose the benefits to your hair when you stop. The more hair you have to save, the more at risk if you stop the medication. Once again, the risk, if it really exists, is likely to be very, very small. You may choose to stay on the medication if you have seen good results. Please speak to your doctor about your situation.
Nelson Ferreira, MD • email: [email protected] • 416-747-7873 2) International society of hair restoration surgeons: ishrs.org. Do search on propecia for 3) Merck website where they have product information: and propecia .com For now I have no more information.
See below for some of the information in the media about this drug.

CTV News.ca Staff
Date: Thursday Aug. 4, 2011 10:22 AM ET
Health Canada is warning that popular medications used to treat baldness and enlarged prostates
may put men at a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
The health agency said Thursday it's updating the labelling for generic finasteride medications to include information about rare reports of breast cancer in men. Finasteride is a prescription drug sold in Canada under two brand names: Propecia and Proscar. Generic finasteride products are also available. Nelson Ferreira, MD • email: [email protected] • 416-747-7873 Propecia (1 mg finasteride tablets) is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Proscar (5 mg finasteride) is used in the treatment and control of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or a non-cancerous enlarged prostate. Male breast cancer has been reported in a small number of patients worldwide with both the 1 mg and 5 mg formulations of finasteride, though most of the reports have been in association with the 5mg formulation. The labelling for Propecia, Proscar and several of the generic finasteride products has already been updated to include information on the potential risk of male breast cancer. Updates to the remaining generic drugs will follow, Health Canada said. The agency says it's not clear what role finasteride might play in breast cancer. "Based on the currently available evidence, it is not known with certainty whether finasteride can cause breast cancer, nor can this possibility be ruled out at this point in time," the Health Canada notice said. Patients taking finasteride should report any changes in their breasts to their doctor. Changes might include breast enlargement, lumps, tenderness, pain or nipple discharge. Patients with questions or concerns about their finasteride treatment should talk to their doctors, Health Canada advises. Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar): Potential rare risk of breast cancer in men Information Update
2011-110
August 4, 2011
For immediate release
OTTAWA - Health Canada is informing healthcare practitioners and patients of a labelling
update for finasteride drugs to add safety information on rare reports of breast cancer in men.
Finasteride is a prescription drug sold in Canada under two brand names, "Propecia" and
"Proscar." Generic finasteride products (1mg and 5mg) are also available on the market.
Propecia (1 mg tablets) is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss, while Proscar (5 mg
Nelson Ferreira, MD • email: [email protected] • 416-747-7873 tablets) is used in the treatment and control of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a non-cancerous enlarged prostate. Finasteride is for use in men only.
Male breast cancer has been reported in a small number of patients worldwide with both the 1 mg and 5 mg formulations of finasteride. Most of the reports have been in association with the 5mg formulation. Based on the currently available evidence, it is not known with certainty whether finasteride can cause breast cancer, nor can this possibility be ruled out at this point in time.
The labelling for Propecia, Proscar and several of the generic finasteride products has already been updated to include information on the potential risk of male breast cancer. Updates to the remaining generic drugs will follow.
Patients taking finasteride should report any changes in their breasts to their doctor. Changes might include breast enlargement, lumps, tenderness, pain or nipple discharge.
Patients with questions or concerns about their finasteride treatment should talk to their health professional. Drug labels, or "Product Monographs," contain important prescribing and safety information for health professionals and patients, and are available by search of Health Canada's How to report side effects to health productsTo report suspected side effects to these or other health products, please contact Health Fax: 1-866-678-6789Mail: Canada Vigilance Program Marketed Health Products DirectorateOttawa, ON, Address Locator 0701EK1A 0K Nelson Ferreira, MD • email: [email protected] • 416-747-7873

Source: http://www.iahrs.org/pdf/finasteride.pdf