Powered By
KINASE INHIBITOR
Afinitor (everolimus) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat postmenopausal women with advanced hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative) breast cancer.
These insights are based on 150 comments about Afinitor from MyBCTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of individuals and are not meant to be medical advice.
Benefits:
Considerations:
Afinitor is a type of medication called a kinase inhibitor. It blocks a protein called mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), which helps cancer cells grow, divide, and form new blood vessels.
In HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, this may help slow abnormal cancer cell growth, including when hormone therapy has stopped working.
Doctors prescribe Afinitor when postmenopausal women have advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and treatment with letrozole or anastrozole has stopped working. It is used with exemestane.
Afinitor is given as a tablet taken by mouth once a day. It should be taken at about the same time each day, consistently with or without food, and swallowed whole with water.
Afinitor also comes as Afinitor Disperz, a tablet that is mixed with water to make an oral suspension. Afinitor Disperz is used for certain tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) conditions. Do not switch between Afinitor tablets and Afinitor Disperz unless your doctor tells you to.
Treatment with Afinitor usually continues until the cancer gets worse or side effects become unacceptable or intolerable.
The recommended dose of Afinitor for breast cancer is 10 milligrams by mouth once daily, used in combination with exemestane. For people with liver problems, the starting dose may be lower.
Doctors may pause treatment, lower the dose, or stop treatment if side effects are serious or too hard to manage.
This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.
These insights are based on 150 comments about Afinitor from MyBCTeam members.
Members who use Afinitor often say it helps to prepare for side effects early, especially mouth sores, fatigue, appetite changes, and taste changes. Many also stress staying in close contact with an oncologist about new symptoms, lab changes, costs, and whether dose adjustments or supportive care might help.
Ask your doctor about dose changes if side effects are hard to manage.
“I am so happy with my status. She has decided to keep me on the lower dose of Afinitor since I am feeling well.”
Prepare for mouth sores early.
“I developed two mouth ulcers by the first few weeks. Fortunately after applying Kenalog Orabase paste over the ulcers and gargling with mouthwash daily, they disappear within two or three days.”
Keep track of appetite, taste changes, and weight loss.
“You will have fatigue, loss of appetite, and sometimes food will have no taste or a funny taste.”
Connect with others who understand life with breast cancer. Join MyBCTeam for free.
In clinical trials of Afinitor used with exemestane for postmenopausal women with advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, the most common side effects occurred in at least 30 percent of people taking the treatment.
These side effects include:
Afinitor can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
Novartis, the manufacturer of Afinitor, offers Novartis Patient Support. The program may help eligible individuals with reimbursement support, copay support, or other affordability resources.
Novartis Patient Support also offers reimbursement process guidance for certain Novartis medications. To learn more, visit the Novartis Patient Support website or call 800-282-7630.
Before starting Afinitor, your doctor will test or check for:
Before treatment, complete recommended childhood vaccinations. Avoid live vaccines during treatment and avoid close contact with people who have recently received live vaccines.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to everolimus or any ingredients in Afinitor.
Tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take an ACE inhibitor for blood pressure or heart problems. Taking an ACE inhibitor with everolimus may raise the risk of serious swelling of the tongue, mouth, or throat (angioedema).
Also let your doctor know if you have had recent infections. Older adults may be more likely to have serious side effects or need to stop treatment, so they may need closer monitoring.
Do not take Afinitor if you have had a serious allergic reaction to everolimus or other rapamycin derivatives.
Afinitor is also FDA-approved to treat neuroendocrine tumors, kidney cancer, renal angiomyolipoma, and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma. Afinitor Disperz is also FDA-approved as an add-on treatment for partial-onset seizures linked to TSC.
If you miss a dose, you can take it up to 6 hours after your usual time. If more than 6 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Everolimus may affect fertility in both females and males. Talk with your doctor if you may want to have children in the future.
Afinitor can harm your baby if you are pregnant. Your doctor should verify pregnancy status before you start treatment. Females who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 8 weeks after the last dose.
Males with female partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 4 weeks after the last dose. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Afinitor and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.
How effective is Afinitor?
In a study of 724 postmenopausal women with advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, people took Afinitor plus exemestane or placebo (an inactive treatment) plus exemestane.
People taking Afinitor plus exemestane went a median of 7.8 months before their cancer got worse. People taking placebo plus exemestane went a median of 3.2 months before their cancer got worse.
In an independent radiology review, people taking Afinitor plus exemestane went a median of 11 months before their cancer got worse. People taking placebo plus exemestane went a median of 4.1 months.
The overall response rate was 12.6 percent with Afinitor plus exemestane and 1.7 percent with placebo plus exemestane. The study did not show a statistically significant difference in overall survival.
What tests or monitoring are needed with Afinitor for breast cancer?
Kidney function should be checked before starting treatment and at least yearly after that, or at least every 6 months if there are added risk factors. Fasting blood sugar and lipid levels should be checked before treatment and at least yearly during treatment. A complete blood count should be checked before starting, every 6 months during the first year, and then yearly.
People should also be monitored for infections, breathing or lung symptoms, and signs of mouth sores during treatment.
On MyBCTeam, people share their experiences with breast cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Learn more about Afinitor and breast cancer care:
More resources from MyBCTeam that mention Afinitor
Become a member to get even more
Join
Your Privacy Choices
