After a median follow up of 6.3 years, the women who received letrozole had higher rates of 5-year disease-free survival (95% versus 91%) and lower annual incidence rates of contralateral breast cancer (0.21% versus 0.49%) than the women who received placebo.
Full Answer
How long do aromatase inhibitors lower the risk of breast cancer?
Sep 21, 2016 · I am interested in knowing how much Aromatase Inhibitors increase my chances of survival long term. I've gone to a Complementary dr and he has recommended many supplements. I've Just read the info on my new prescription Exemestane.....it states I shouldn't take herbs or vitamins.I was thinking I'd do both to hedge my bets. I hate the side effects I had …
Are aromatase inhibitors better than tamoxifen or raloxifene for breast cancer?
Oct 24, 2021 · Aromatase inhibitor therapy does not affect estrogen production in the ovaries. A 2020 research article published in JCI Insight suggests that aromatase inhibitors can reduce breast cancer ...
Should adjuvant aromatase inhibitors be used in women with coronary artery disease?
Results from the EBCTCG trialists panel confirmed that, before the emergence of third-generation AIs, adjuvant tamoxifen for 5 years (only for hormonal receptor-positive disease) reduced the annual breast cancer death rate by 31%, irrespective of the use of chemotherapy, age, progesterone receptor status, or other tumor characteristics (EBCTCG 2005). Five years’ …
Should you walk away from taking aromatase inhibitors?
Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) lower estrogen levels by stopping an enzyme in fat tissue (called aromatase) from changing other hormones into estrogen. (Estrogen can fuel the growth of breast cancer cells.) These drugs don’t stop the ovaries from making estrogen. They only lower estrogen levels in women whose ovaries aren’t making estrogen ...
What happens if you don't take estrogen blockers after breast cancer?
What happens if you dont take anastrozole?
Are aromatase inhibitors necessary?
What percent of patients discontinue aromatase inhibitors due to adverse effects?
How much does anastrozole reduce risk of recurrence?
How much does Arimidex increase survival?
Are there any alternatives to aromatase inhibitors?
What happens when you stop taking aromatase inhibitors?
How safe are aromatase inhibitors?
How many years do you have to take anastrozole?
Are there withdrawal symptoms from Aromasin?
How long does it take for exemestane to leave your system?
What Are Aromatase Inhibitors?
Aromatase inhibitors lower estrogen levels by stopping an enzyme in fat tissue (called aromatase) from changing other hormones into estrogen. These...
Can Aromatase Inhibitors Lower The Risk of Breast Cancer?
AIs are used mainly to treat women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. But large studies of anastrozole and exemestane have also found th...
What Are The Risks and Side Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors?
The most common side effects of AIs are symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.These drugs can also cause mu...
What are the side effects of aromatase inhibitors?
What are the risks and side effects of aromatase inhibitors? The most common side effects of AIs are symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. These drugs can also cause muscle and joint pain. This side effect can be serious enough to cause some women to stop taking the drugs.
How does aromatase inhibitor work?
Aromatase inhibitors lower estrogen levels by stopping an enzyme in fat tissue (called aromatase) from changing other hormones into estrogen. (Estrogen can fuel the growth of breast cancer cells.)
What is the best medicine for breast cancer?
Aromatase Inhibitors for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk. For women with a higher than average risk of breast cancer who are considering taking medicine to lower their risk, drugs called aromatase inhibitors (AIs) may be an option instead of tamoxifen or raloxifene.
Can AIs lower breast cancer risk?
These drugs are not yet approved in the US to lower breast cancer risk. However, some expert groups include them as ...
Does AI raise cholesterol?
AIs may raise cholesterol. Women with pre-existing coronary heart disease who take an AI may be at risk of having a heart problem.
Can AIs be taken once a day?
The drugs in this class that have been shown in studies to lower breast cancer risk include: AIs are pills taken once a day.
Is raloxifene approved for breast cancer?
These drugs are not yet approved in the US to lower breast cancer risk. However, some expert groups include them as options (along with tamoxifen and raloxifene) to reduce breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women who are at increased risk.
To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
I had breast cancer diagnosed (thanks to a mammogram) in June 2011, had 2 ops in July/Aug to remove the lump (1st one they didnt know if they had taken a wide enough area...turned out they had!) and all lymph glands, followed by 6 Chemo treatments (Taxotere / FEC) and 4 weeks of Radiotherapy, all finishing around March 2012.
Re: To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
hi sugarpuff, i too had same cancer as you picked up almost three years ago with mamagram refused chem fec but had three weeks radiotherapy then put on arimidex for five years was in total agony and im a very tough cookie my oncologist said try to persevere i did so for a year life was awful as i live alone and love gardening couldnt pick kettle up some days pain in my feet hands shoulders neck hips knees and no sleep as keep waking up with numb tingling fingers i said cant take anymore so she then put me on exemerstane that was not so bad for a couple of months but now im in agony again my surgeon said when i see her again which will be august to ask for tamoxifen to be honest i dont think any are any different i just hope after five years it all stops no one seems to know i call it a living hell, sorry i cant be more helpful i dread each day as this is not quality of life.
To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
Hi....this is now 2020 and hoping to reach sugarpuff as I could have written her post. I have been on femera for just over two and a half years and basically have come to a grinding halt. Wrist tendinitis in both wrists, De Quervains tendinitis in both thumbs and tendon problems in some fingers.
To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
Hi I had a lumpectomy and full lymph gland removal in April 2020 and was given Letrozole to take for 10 years. I am only into just over a month and already my hair is falling out in handfuls, my skin has aged terribly, have pins and needles in my feet and hands, cannot sleep at all, if I get 2 hours per night that's a gift.
To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
Hi finished taking chemo exactly a year ago on - Letrozole. No SEs to start but they have built up over time. Frozen shoulder carpal tunnel syndrome sweats ... horrible, But we MUST take them . They are so effective that now prescribed for 10 not 5 years we are not ' cured' we need these drugs to keep us cancer=free.
To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
I understand completely where you are coming from but living for 10 years (and I will not be far off 80 when this is up) with this horrible drug is causing me severe depression. Before I was diagnosed with cancer I was active, vibrant with a **** for life, on a good diet, not overweight, in the gym 3 to 4 times a week.
To take aromatase inhibitors...or not?
i do understand but you need to speak to your onc before doing anything. My figure is also 6 per cent but that is the difference it makes in long-term survival ie mortality not recurrence which AIs can stop by up to 50 per cent.
What is aromatase inhibitor used for?
Aromatase inhibitors are used to treat hormone-receptor positive breast cancers. Postmenopausal women may take an aromatase inhibitor. Some premenopausal women may take an aromatase inhibitor when combined with ovarian suppression. Aromatase inhibitors are not used to treat breast cancer in men.
Can aromatase inhibitors be used for breast cancer?
Aromatase inhibitors are not used to treat breast cancer in men. For women with early breast cancer, treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (alone or after tamoxifen) lowers the risk of [1]: The aromatase inhibitors anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin) and letrozole (Femara) all have a similar benefit [1].
Is anastrozole an aromatase inhibitor?
The aromatase inhibitors anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin) and letrozole (Femara) all have a similar benefit [1]. They also have similar side effects. However, a person may tolerate one drug better than another. Learn more about aromatase inhibitors, including possible side effects.
What is the best treatment for breast cancer?
There are several types of hormonal therapy medicines. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is one of the most well-known. Tamoxifen can be used to treat both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Which is more effective, Femara or Arimidex?
Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole) Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane) Femara (chemical name: letrozole) were shown to be more effective at reducing recurrence risk in postmenopausal women and are now used more often than tamoxifen to treat women who’ve gone through menopause.
How many women didn't complete hormonal therapy?
Overall, about 19% of the women didn’t complete the prescribed course of hormonal therapy. The percentages of women who didn’t complete the prescribed course of therapy by treatment type were: 17.5% of women prescribed 5 years of Femara didn’t complete treatment. 17% of women prescribed 5 years of tamoxifen didn’t complete treatment.
Why did women stop taking hormones?
Most of the women who stopped taking hormonal therapy early -- about 83% -- said they stopped taking the medicine because of side effects.
What is the oldest and most prescribed selective estrogen receptor modulator?
Tamoxifen is the oldest and most-prescribed selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)....
How does hormone therapy work after breast cancer surgery?
Hormonal therapy medicines work in two ways: by blocking the action of estrogen on breast cancer cells.
What is disease free survival?
Disease-free survival was defined as how long the women lived without the cancer coming back or a new cancer being diagnosed in the opposite breast.
What is the purpose of Aromatase inhibitors?
Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), like arimidex, aromasin and femara, are also used to help fight cancer cell regrowth. These drugs work to block cell receptors like estrogen and progesterone in breast cancers that are hormone receptor positive. Aromatase inhibitors have similar side effects to those of Tamoxifen but also affect bone health. Women taking AIs are periodically asked to take a bone density test to rule out physical problems such as osteopenia or osteoporosis.
What is the best treatment for breast cancer?
Standard adjuvant therapies after a breast cancer diagnosis often include one or more of the following: chemotherapy, radiation treatments, surgery or long-term medications such as SERMS (selective estrogen receptor modulators). According to an article posted by Breastcancer.org, “Tamoxifen, the generic name of nolvadex, is the oldest and most-prescribed SERM.” It has been used in both women and men diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers to reduce the possibility of recurrence. Tamoxifen is the first choice for premenopausal women while aromatase inhibitors are used primarily for postmenopausal women; however, in cases where postmenopausal women cannot tolerate aromatase inhibitors, Tamoxifen may provide an alternative option. Tamoxifen may help reduce the risk of new cancer growth, shrink tumors, help prevent bone loss and lower cholesterol levels.
Can you stop taking aromatase inhibitors?
I would never suggest you stop taking your medication. I am not a medical professional and do not claim to be. I would suggest, if you notice an inability to tolerate side effects, you talk to your doctor and seek advice. There may be a better solution. Each individual must make their own choice based on the information available. Choose wisely. It’s your life. Listen to your body. There’s no reason to suffer in silence.
Does tamoxifen cause fatigue?
But even with all of its benefits, Tamoxifen does come with side effects. Some side effects are mild while others are more severe. Common side effects include: hot flashes, fatigue, changes in mood, depression and night sweats. Some of the more serious side effects of Tamoxifen include blood clots, stroke, endometrial cancer and memory loss.
Is nolvadex the oldest SERM?
According to an article posted by Breastcancer.org, “Tamoxifen, the generic name of nolvadex, is the oldest and most-prescribed SERM.”. It has been used in both women and men diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers to reduce the possibility of recurrence. Tamoxifen is the first choice for premenopausal women while aromatase ...
Does Aromatase inhibitor affect bone?
Aromatase inhibitors have similar side effects to those of Tamoxifen but also affect bone health. Women taking AIs are periodically asked to take a bone density test to rule out physical problems such as osteopenia or osteoporosis.
How long does tamoxifen last?
The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer recommend equally the options of AI for 5 years, tamoxifen for 2-3 years followed by AI to complete 5 years, and tamoxifen for 4.5 to 6 years followed by AI for 5 years. [ 2] .
Can you use AI for breast cancer?
If the patient has history of ischemic heart disease and lower risk of breast cancer recurrence, she should not be treated with an AI. If the patient has a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence, the practitioner should consider switching to an AI only after 2-3 years tamoxifen.
Does tamoxifen affect cardiovascular disease?
Previously the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of an increased incidence of cardiovascular events for women with pre-existing heart disease for anastrozole (17%) compared with tamoxifen (10%). The data in the meta-analysis suggests that this increased cardiovascular risk may extend to all AIs. Trials of tamoxifen versus placebo also show that tamoxifen is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events. Tamoxifen may thus have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. Oncologists should weigh carefully the risk and benefits of AI use in patients with pre-existing heart disease, or other risk factors for heart disease. Data suggests that upfront AI use is associated with increased odds of death without breast cancer recurrence compared with the use of tamoxifen alone or switching from tamoxifen to AI. Data also suggests that switching after 2-3 years tamoxifen to an AI is associated with a reduced number of deaths compared with AI alone or tamoxifen alone. Switching may lead to a reduction in risk of cumulative toxicities.
Is aromatase inhibitor good for breast cancer?
This meta-analysis confirms that an aromatase inhibitor (AI) is not the best therapy for all postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor positive, early-stage, breast cancer. [ 1] This potentially practice-changing article provides new evidence for AI toxicities, which practitioners should consider when choosing between adjuvant endocrine therapies for postmenopausal breast cancer patients. The authors conducted the study to clarify why AIs, when compared with tamoxifen, increased disease-free survival but not overall survival. AI toxicities were suspected to counteract decreased recurrence rates. The authors thus conducted a literature-based meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare relative toxicities of AIs versus tamoxifen as primary adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.
Does AI cause hypercholesterolemia?
Four of the included studies formally assessed hypercholesterolemia, though they were not graded consistently. Pooled data analysis showed that a longer duration of AI use was associated with a statistically significant increase in odds of hypercholesterolemia compared with tamoxifen (OR 2.36, 95% CI 2.15 to 2.60, p<0.001). The difference was less pronounced for the switching cohort than for the upfront AI cohort.
Does switching to endocrine therapy reduce cumulative toxicities?
Switching may lead to a reduction in risk of cumulative toxicities. Multiple factors should be considered when choosing endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer in light of this data.
Does tamoxifen cause bone fracture?
In their discussion of adjuvant endocrine therapy, they mention that AIs are associated with "musculoskeletal symptoms, osteoporosis, and increased risk of bone fracture, while tamoxifen is associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and deep venous thrombosis".