Femara... Five More Year

mhmama
mhmama Member Posts: 5
in Breast Cancer #1

Last week was the day I have been waiting for.  The 5 years of Femara was supposed to come to an end.  I stuck it out when so many I knew gave up due to the pain from this pill and then I had my visit with my Oncologist last week and he gave me the bad news.  Due to more studies etc., he suggests that I stay on Femara for 5 more years.  I agreed but I am not real happy.

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    I've been on Ferama/letrozole

    I've been on Ferama/letrozole for 4 yrs.  I've been told I'll be on it.

    Winyan - The Power Within

     

    Susan

  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #3
    Oh No!

    I have been on Femara for just over 3 yrs. I was really looking forward to the 5 yr mark so I could stop taking it. I guess I am lucky though because I don't really have any side effects from it. So sorry you have pain from it. Hang in there!

    Hugs,

    Georgia

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
    ladyg said:

    Oh No!

    I have been on Femara for just over 3 yrs. I was really looking forward to the 5 yr mark so I could stop taking it. I guess I am lucky though because I don't really have any side effects from it. So sorry you have pain from it. Hang in there!

    Hugs,

    Georgia

    It's been close to 2 yrs

    It's been close to 2 yrs since I was told I'd be on Femara/letrozole forever because I'm IBC.  I HATE taking anything but taking it eveyday is not a problem at all.  I'm here to take them so that's al that matters to me.  I will do what I need to do to LIVE.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

     

     

  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #5
    Rague said:

    It's been close to 2 yrs

    It's been close to 2 yrs since I was told I'd be on Femara/letrozole forever because I'm IBC.  I HATE taking anything but taking it eveyday is not a problem at all.  I'm here to take them so that's al that matters to me.  I will do what I need to do to LIVE.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

     

     

    I hear you...same here for Tamoxifen

    I'm premenopausal, so I'm on Tamoxifen (instead of Femara or Arimidex for you postmenopausal ladies).  I just passed my 4-year mark, and thought I only had a year to go, but my oncologist and gynecologist both agree that results from recent studies are so strong that they're now recommending nearly all their patients on Tamoxifen take it for 10 years, not 5.  And they said similar evidence is starting to come in for the aromatase inhibitors (Femara, Arimidex) as well.

    For me, I have such mixed feelings...I was SO looking forward to an end to the hot flashes I get from Tamoxifen, and just in general finding out what my body would feel like without it.  BUT, I know I would also be terrified to stop it, because I know what a powerful drug it is to help prevent recurrence.

    I'm so grateful we have these drugs, and I'll take advantage of their protection for however long my doctors think is best for me, but I hate that I'll likely be on them for many more years:  I started Tamoxifen when I was 40, so will now be on it until I'm 50.  Right about the time I'll probably be hitting menopause, so what do you want to bet I'll then get to go on Femara or Arimidex for ANOTHER 10 years?

    I can't tell you how many friends and co-workers have said to me, "You're not STILL taking that pill for cancer, are you?  It's been years, hasn't it?"  Little do they realize -- I probably have SIXTEEN more years to go!

    Traci

     

     

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #6
    I know how hard this is

    I know how hard this is because I was on tamoxifen from 1987-1994.  I was on it 7 years because no one was sure how long to leave me on it and, back in 1987, Stage 3 cancer had a pretty bleak prognosis.  I did experience the usual side effects-none life threatening but many annoying.  

    However, my cancer anniversary is coming up in February and it will be my 27th!  And the only "new" treatment I had back then was tamoxifen.  I am convinced that the drug is part of the reason for my unexpected longevity.

    So hang in there ladies.  I know tamoxifen sucks, but cancer sucks even worse.  Big hugs to you all!

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #7
    Better than the alternative

    I wish that I could go back on Femara, Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Faslodex but my cancer has figured out how to deactivate them.

    Be glad there is something you can take to prevent a recurrence.

    Doris

Discussion Boards