Afinitor (Everolimus) for Breast Cancer

Overview
Afinitor is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat advanced breast cancer in combination with exemestane after treatment with letrozole or anastrozole has failed. Afinitor is prescribed in cases where women are postmenopausal and tumors are hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative. Afinitor is also referred to by its drug name, everolimus.

Afinitor is a member of a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors, and it is designed to inhibit the growth of cells. Afinitor is believed to work by slowing the growth of tumors.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Afinitor is taken once daily.

Afinitor comes in tablet and tablet for oral suspension forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Afinitor lists common side effects including infections, rash, fatigue, diarrhea, edema, abdominal pain, nausea, fever, weakness, cough, headache, and decreased appetite.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Afinitor include severe infections, angioedema (rapid swelling of the face, mouth, throat, or tongue), severe hypersensitivity reactions, renal failure, metabolic disorders, impaired wound healing, and fetal harm.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Afinitor — Novartis
https://www.us.afinitor.com/metastatic-breast-c...

Afinitor — RxList
https://www.rxlist.com/afinitor-drug.htm