Aromasin Side Effects

Breast cancer risk slashed by hormone-blocking pill, study shows

It was the first time that Aromasin, Femara, Arimidex, and other aromatase inhibitors were tested in healthy women. These hormone-blocking pills are used now to block recurrence of breast cancer post-menopausal patients, and doctors have long thought they might help prevent the disease in the first place.

Prevention drugs aren't advised for women at average risk of breast cancer. Those with gene mutations or other factors that put them at high risk have two choices for prevention - tamoxifen and raloxifene. But these drugs are unpopular because they can cause uterine cancer, blood clots and other problems.

"Here's a third breast cancer prevention drug that may in fact be safer," said Dr. Allen Lichter, chief executive of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The study - discussed Saturday at the society's annual meeting in Chicago - involved 4,560 women. All had at least one risk factor - being 60 or older, a prior breast abnormality or pre-invasive cancer, or a high score on a scale that takes into account family history and other things.

They were given daily doses of Aromasin (exemestane) or dummy pills. After about three years, there were 11 cases of invasive breast cancer among those on the drug versus 32 among the others. That worked out to a 65 percent reduction in risk for those on the drug - enough of a benefit that scientists decided that all participants should be offered it.

Major side effects, such as broken bones, high cholesterol and heart problems, were similar in both groups. Slightly more women on the drug reported hot flashes, fatigue, sweating, insomnia and joint pain, but quality-of-life scores were similar.

The study's leader, Dr. Paul Goss of Massachusetts General Hospital, figured that 26 women would need to take exemestane for five years to prevent one case of breast cancer. Even though this study did not compare the drug to tamoxifen, previous studies suggested 96 women would need to take it for five years for each breast cancer prevented.

"This is a new option for prevention of invasive breast cancer for a wide pool of women," Goss said.

Still, it could be a tough sell. These women have only about a 2 percent to 3 percent risk, individually, of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the next five years. A prevention pill that cuts that chance by 65 percent means a roughly 1 percent risk, said Dr. Eric Winer, breast cancer chief at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Aromasin Exemestane Hormone Blocking Medication Can Reduce Breast ...

And unlike other anti-estrogen therapies such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, Aromasin (exemestane) did not carry a heightened risk of endocrine cancer or blood clots, although it did have the well-known problems of hot flashes and joint stiffness also attributable to tamoxifen and raloxifene, the study authors said. Aromasin, an aromatase inhibitor now available in generic form, is currently approved for early breast cancer patients but not to prevent tumors. Exemestane is an effective steroidal aromatase inactivator with superior tolerability, safety and efficacy in the adjuvant, neo-adjuvant and metastatic therapy of breast cancer.Aromasin side effects (exemestane) As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Aromasin® (exemestane). However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the medication well. If side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Side Effects of Aromasin: Important things to remember about the side effects of Aromasin: Most people do not experience all of the side effects listed. Side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration. Side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete. There are many options to help minimize or prevent side effects. There is no relationship between the presence or severity of side effects and the effectiveness of the medication. The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking Aromasin: There are no common side effects of Aromasin. These side effects are less common side effects (occurring in about 10-29%) of patients receiving Aromasin: Fatigue,Nausea (mild), Hot flashes, Depression, Bone pain, Insomnia, Anxiety, Shortness of breath, Not all side effects are listed above. Some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here. However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

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