It sounds like you're taking exemestane (also known as Aromasin) — a great question to dig into! It belongs to a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors (AIs), which work by reducing estrogen production in the body to slow breast cancer growth.
Exemestane is FDA-approved for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and is Show Full Answer
It sounds like you're taking exemestane (also known as Aromasin) — a great question to dig into! It belongs to a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors (AIs), which work by reducing estrogen production in the body to slow breast cancer growth.
Exemestane is FDA-approved for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and is commonly used in postmenopausal women, often after a period of taking tamoxifen. Compared to other aromatase inhibitors like letrozole (Femara) and anastrozole (Arimidex), clinical trials have shown that these medications perform similarly in terms of effectiveness. Studies comparing letrozole and anastrozole, for example, found no significant difference in disease-free survival or overall survival rates after five years.
Exemestane is generally considered to be in the same effective range as the other AIs, and your oncologist would have chosen it based on your specific situation. Like all AIs, exemestane can come with some side effects to be aware of, including:
- Bone, joint, and muscle pain
- Digestive changes (nausea, constipation, diarrhea)
- Headache or dizziness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Possible changes in cholesterol or liver function
If side effects are making things difficult, don't just stop taking it — talk to your care team first. There may be ways to manage them or alternatives to explore.
October 17
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