Femara???

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krkath
krkath Member Posts: 72
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all,
I'm at 9 months recovering and still have much leg pain. (Taxotere combined with the A/C ea. infusion)I just had my 3 month Oncology and was wondering if anyone has been prescribed Femara. My Onc. wants to get me started on an Aromatase Inhibitor. The first couple months after treatment I started on Arimidex and OH MY GOD, the joint, bone and muscle pain were terrible. So, a month later he put me on Tamoxifen and the same thing happened. So, now even though I am still in pain daily and have difficulty walking I'm going to start on this Femara hoping for the best. At this point I'm paranoid, to say the least. I know we are all different and have heard some women (though very few) can tolerate the Arimidex or the Tamoxifen. So, anyone out there had any experience with Femara?
Anytime I read "Mild to Moderate Joint and Muscle Pain".... if it has side effects I'll experience it. And more than "Moderate".
Thanks,
Kathy

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  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #2
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    Hi Kathy! I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and had only the hot flashes. Very tolerable. I'm now on Femara for 6 mos. and have alot of joint and muscle pain which I must say, is interferring with my life. I'm seriously thinking of stopping it. There is a new drug called Aromison. I'm thinking about trying it. The Arimidex is almost the same as the Femara so not interested in trying it. As you said, no 2 people react to the same drugs with the same side effects. Try it out. It might not bother you. Good Luck! Let us know how things go. HUGS!! Cathy
  • jdubious
    jdubious Member Posts: 113
    #3
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    cruf said:

    Hi Kathy! I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and had only the hot flashes. Very tolerable. I'm now on Femara for 6 mos. and have alot of joint and muscle pain which I must say, is interferring with my life. I'm seriously thinking of stopping it. There is a new drug called Aromison. I'm thinking about trying it. The Arimidex is almost the same as the Femara so not interested in trying it. As you said, no 2 people react to the same drugs with the same side effects. Try it out. It might not bother you. Good Luck! Let us know how things go. HUGS!! Cathy

    Hi,
    I was on Femara, but had to stop because of pain. I switched to Arimidex, and it's a great improvement. We are all different, so I think it's worth it to try an alternative, what works for one of us may be unacceptable for others. Good luck!
    jill
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #4
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    I am on Arimidex. I worked at going to the gym and it seemed the more I forced myself to work out.. the better the stiffness got. Don't know if it will work for you. I had to start very slowly.. but I have worked back up to close to where I was before diagnoisis.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
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    Kathy,
    I'm still a work in process....last Taxol next week, but I'm so glad you posted this! My onc is thinking of combo tamoxifen/some aromatase inhibitor. For me, if there IS a side effect I GET IT! No doubt about it! I get joint pain now from the Taxol/Neulasta. Yuk.
    Thanks again for the post.....will make me ask MANY questions before taking any after-treatment treatment!
    Many hugs!
    Kathi
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #6
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    KathiM said:

    Kathy,
    I'm still a work in process....last Taxol next week, but I'm so glad you posted this! My onc is thinking of combo tamoxifen/some aromatase inhibitor. For me, if there IS a side effect I GET IT! No doubt about it! I get joint pain now from the Taxol/Neulasta. Yuk.
    Thanks again for the post.....will make me ask MANY questions before taking any after-treatment treatment!
    Many hugs!
    Kathi

    Don't give up on after treatment, at least not without trying it. It may really help you to avoid recurrence. I too had a fair amount of pain with Taxol and Neulasta.... but with Arimedex I haven't had near as much pain and I found that when my energy returned just getting out and moving made a real difference. Ask questions, but remember that eveyone's body reacts differently to side effects.
  • glorylane
    glorylane Member Posts: 4
    #7
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    I had such a bad reaction to the taxotere that the dr. had to take me off of it--burning skin, leaky veins and lots of bloating (maybe also the cortisone doses associated with it)--I have been on femara for almost 2 years and I have always associated the muscle, ankle pain and tingling with the effects of the chemo- I didn't realize that it could also be from the femara. I take 1800 mgs of neurontin that helps some of the pain-but not all of it. My waliking is difficult since my ankles will cave in. My hair did not come back after the chemo, either and that may be due to the estrogen block in femara. so far the cancer has not come back- unless the few cells discovered in a colon polyp count--at least ithas not invaded any vital organs so far. i think the doctors do focus so much on the cancer that the side effects and quality of life ore overlooked too much--

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