TREATMENT > Hormone therapy > Aromatase inhibitors
HORMONE THERAPY
AROMATASE INHIBITORS
Before menopause, women produce most of their estrogen in the ovaries. After menopause, most of the estrogen in a woman’s body is produced in fat and other tissues, but not in the ovaries. Making estrogen outside of the ovaries relies on another natural substance in the body called aromatase.
An aromatase inhibitor is a medication that blocks the effect of aromatase, therefore reducing the amount of estrogen a postmenopausal woman can produce. With reduced estrogen in the body overall, there is less estrogen available to bind to the breast cancer cell estrogen receptors and promote cell growth, resulting in slower growth for the cancer.
Premenopausal women do not benefit from aromatase inhibitors because they cannot stop the ovaries from producing estrogen.
The effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors for men with breast cancer is less clear, but some men may benefit from aromatase inhibitors.
Some of the possible side effects of aromatase inhibitors include hot flashes, joint pain, muscle aches, and fatigue. There is also an increased risk for osteoporosis (weakening of the bones).
See your doctor for further discussion of possible side effects.
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