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Faslodex (fulvestrant)
Starting Faslodex can bring up a lot of questions, for you and for the people who love you. Here you'll find what to expect, how to feel your best day to day and where to get help, so you can focus on your life and time together.
ℹ️ General information to help you and your loved ones talk with your care team, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.
Hormone therapy (estrogen receptor degrader) · Used for: Breast cancer
💉 Given by IV or injection · Hormone therapy (estrogen receptor degrader)
The quick guide
What it is: Hormone therapy (estrogen receptor degrader).
How it's given: Two shots into the buttock muscles on days 1, 15 and 29, then monthly.
How it works: Fulvestrant blocks and breaks down the estrogen receptor. Used for advanced HR+ breast cancer, often with a CDK4/6 or PI3K/AKT drug.
Side effects you may notice, and what helps at home
| Side effect | What can help |
|---|---|
| Injection-site pain | Tell your care team; they can help. |
| Hot flashes | Tell your care team; they can help. |
| Fatigue (extreme tiredness) | Short walks and planned rest. |
| Nausea and vomiting (CINV) | Small bland meals; take anti-nausea medicine as prescribed. |
Not everyone gets these. Your team may suggest other ways to manage them.
Call your care team now if you have:
- Bleeding or bruising easily (if you take blood thinners)
- Yellow skin or eyes
Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain or signs of stroke.
🗓 What to expect
1️⃣ Before you start
- Ask your team for a written schedule and an after-hours phone number.
- Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements.
2️⃣ During each infusion
- You'll get the medicine through an IV in a clinic; nurses check you during the infusion.
- Tell the nurse right away about chills, itching, flushing, or trouble breathing.
- Bring a snack, water and something to pass the time.
3️⃣ Between doses
- Watch for the side effects below and use the checklist.
- Keep up with blood tests and visits.
- Call your team for anything in the red box.
✅ Side-effect checklist
Print this and check off what you notice so you can tell your team.
| Side effect | Noticed? | Notes for my team |
|---|---|---|
| Injection-site pain | ☐ | |
| Hot flashes | ☐ | |
| Fatigue (extreme tiredness) | ☐ | |
| Nausea and vomiting (CINV) | ☐ |
Help paying for Faslodex (fulvestrant)
Faslodex (fulvestrant) is made by AstraZeneca.
Official manufacturer program:
- AstraZeneca Access 360 / AZ&Me: Benefits checks, copay savings, and AZ&Me free-medicine help for people who qualify.
Copay cards are usually only for people with commercial (job or marketplace) insurance. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, look at free-drug programs and these independent foundations:
- PAN Foundation: Copay grants for insured people, including those on Medicare, who meet income limits, when a fund for their diagnosis is open.
- FundFinder (from PAN): A free tool that tracks when copay foundation funds open and can send you an alert, so you don't have to keep checking each site.
- HealthWell Foundation: Grants for copays, deductibles, and premiums for insured people under income limits; the disease funds page shows which are open.
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation: Help with treatment copays for insured people with certain cancers who meet income limits.
- Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief (TotalAssist): Copay and coinsurance help for insured patients who qualify by income, from the Patient Advocate Foundation.
- Good Days: Copay help, and in some funds travel costs, for insured people with chronic or life-changing illnesses who meet income limits.
- Accessia Health (formerly Patient Services, Inc.): Help with premiums, copays, and travel for people with certain chronic and rare conditions.
- The Assistance Fund: Copay, premium, and other cost help for insured people with serious illnesses, when a disease fund is open.
- NORD Patient Assistance Programs: Cost help for people with certain rare diseases, including some rare cancers.
- NeedyMeds: A free, open-to-anyone database of drug-maker programs, foundations, and low-cost clinics, plus a drug discount card.
Funds open and close often. FundFinder shows which are open now. See more help on paying for cancer treatment.
📋 Medicare: Medicare Part B usually covers drugs given by infusion in a doctor's office or hospital outpatient clinic. You typically pay 20% after the Part B deductible. See Medicare and your cancer drugs.
More: Help from drug makers · Our guide to paying for cancer treatment.
❓ Questions you and your loved ones can ask
- What is the goal of this treatment for me?
- How will we know if it's working?
- Which side effects should I call about right away, and what number do I call after hours?
- Which medicines, vitamins or supplements should I avoid?
- Will this affect my ability to work, drive or care for my family?
- What will this cost me, and who can help me with coverage?
Support for you and your family
- Susan G. Komen: Breast care helpline, treatment assistance and education
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer: Helpline, peer support and programs for metastatic breast cancer
- CancerCare: Free counseling, support groups and financial help
- Cancer Support Community: Support groups, a helpline and the MyLifeLine online community
Questions people often ask
How does Faslodex (fulvestrant) work?
Fulvestrant blocks and breaks down the estrogen receptor.
How is Faslodex (fulvestrant) given?
Two shots into the buttock muscles on days 1, 15 and 29, then monthly.
What side effects are common with Faslodex (fulvestrant)?
Side effects people often notice include Injection-site pain, Hot flashes, Fatigue (extreme tiredness), and Nausea and vomiting (CINV). Not everyone gets them, and our table above shares tips that may help at home.
When should I call my care team while on Faslodex (fulvestrant)?
Call right away if you notice any of these: bleeding or bruising easily (if you take blood thinners); yellow skin or eyes. If you're ever unsure, it's always OK to call.
What cancers is Faslodex (fulvestrant) used for?
On this site, we cover Faslodex (fulvestrant) for breast cancer. Your care team decides whether it fits your situation.
Is there help paying for Faslodex (fulvestrant)?
Yes, there may be. AstraZeneca runs official support programs, which are linked on this page, and independent foundations may help too.
📄 The official FDA label for Faslodex (fulvestrant), including its patient information section, is on DailyMed.
Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write
Sources
Last updated: October 15, 2026. We summarize these sources in our own words.