Changes to This Summary (02/10/2012)
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.
Revised text to state that aromatase inhibitors or inactivators such as exemestane reduce the incidence of new breast cancers in postmenopausal women who have an increased risk of breast cancer. Also added text to state that women aged 35 years and older who had at least one risk factor and who took exemestane daily were less likely to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (cited Goss et al. as reference 2).
Added text to state that exemestane is associated with slightly increased hot flashes and fatigue, but not with fractures, osteoporosis, or cardiovascular events compared with placebo; however, there is a small increase in adverse events.
Updated statistics with estimated new cases and deaths for 2012 (cited American Cancer Society as reference 2).
Revised text to state that the prophylactic effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer persisted after active treatment, with fewer women developing breast cancer in the tamoxifen group than in the placebo group.
Added text about a single randomized controlled trial that reported a small increase in adverse effects, primarily hot flashes and fatigue, in women who had no history of breast cancer and who were treated with exemestane to prevent invasive breast cancer, compared with women in a placebo group (cited Goss et al. as reference 102).
Added text about a prospective cohort study that confirms a reduction in breast cancer risk by about 50% with prophylactic oophorectomy, and a greater reduction in BRCA2 mutation carriers than in BRCA1 carriers (cited Kauff et al. as reference 110).
Back to Top
