Aromosin VS. Femara

Gm2873 said:

Aromosin vs. Femara
I've been on Letrozole (Femara) for about 3 months now and I'm starting to experience quite a bit of joint pain. Especially knees, hips, wrists and elbows. Been doing a lot of research to see what I might be able to do to help with it. Anti-inflammatory drugs don't seem to help. Looks like the best options are exercise and supplements such as D, B and glucosamine (though I read a couple of years ago that in a study there was no difference between placebo and glucosamine). as soon as I recover from my mastectomy, I have radiation for about 6 weeks. Then I plan to get into a water aerobics class at the Y. Figure that will be easy on the painful joints but will also exercise them. I don't want to stop the AI because my tumor was strongly ER+/PR+. It's already metastatastized to bone, so I feel like the AI and Herceptin are keeping me alive. Just need to find the best way to deal with the pain. I see my oncologist again on 5/26 and I plan to talk to her about then. I lost 40 lbs while on Taxotere and I'm thinking maybe I should try to loose more weight. If I get skinny, that should help ease some of the joint pain, especially the knees and hips. I'll let you know what my Dr says.

please excuse the double submission. Don't know why it did that, and don't see a way to delete one of them.

I have been on Femara for 11 months and really have had no major side effects just minor joint stiffness after sitting for awhile that goes away after moving around. I have recently added Ibrance along with Femara and that has been a challenge with white blood counts dropping but that is happening to most that use it until they get you on the right dosage. Femara has worked for me so I hope you have good luck with it too

kln said:

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you for your comments. This past year has been a a roller coaster ride. It's comforting to have someone along for the ride. Even though a real ride would have been much more fun. Thanks again Kelly

Good Morning

I also have had bad side effects from Aromosin and Femera it caused my Legs to swell and become bright red, Joint and Muscle pain was horrible. Quality of life became an issue for me because I had been very active.  After about 4 months of trying both of these they have now put me back on Tamoxifin to do the remainder of my 5 Years and then we will take a look at our options at that time.  Hang in there, keep open communication with your oncologist. You will find the right combination

this is only the second day of taking the one that starts with an "a". so many drugs to remember! After reading comments, I want to cry. This is so depressing.  My chemo treatments were a nightmare.  So sick. I was in the hospital after every treatment. They stopped the two drugs with the bad side effects and was so much better. Then my heart function dropped to low, so they stopped the last one.  I am 70 yrs old and my body hurts most of the time anyway. Had 3 of the Nuelasta shots with the first 3 treatments And so much pain with those. I am suppose to start radiation soon and have a mastectomy. I really wonder a lot of the time if this is worth it. I am praying that this pill doesn't cause me trouble. I had a complete hysterectomy at age 47 and still can't believe you produce that much estrogen to feed cancer.

I was on Femara for about 5 months until I couldn't tolerate the joint pains.   Switched to Arimidex but eventually I had such back pain that I couldn't sit and do my work.   I went to a pain doc, who did a MRI which showed a pinched nerve, and he said it would be like this the rest of my life.  Oncologist then wanted me to take Tamoxifen, but it made me worry I could get blood clots or uterine cancer, so I stopped it too.   I couldn't deal mentally with any of these drugs.   After being off all of them, about 5-6 months later my back began to get somewhat better.   I was relieved, and knew I'd never take aromatase inhibitors again.   They had negatively affected my bone health.   I'm 7 years out after my masectomy, no chemo, no radiation.   Just living life each day and not worrying.  Depending on the day, I take pain meds, I sit, I walk, I do gardening.   Just whatever I can.

My chemo was rough.  The Herceptin treatments were too.  The Arimedex is awful as well.  I dont know if I can do 5 yrs of this.  My joints hurt so bad all the time. 

I hope you get to feeling better.

Hugs,

Annie

Hi all:  I was ER+HER-, post-menopausal.  Tumor removed May3, not clear margins and after 2nd surgery with clear margins started RT in September.  I just rang the bell yesterday and got my "Femara" refills today.  Well, it WAS Femara and I've had no side effects at all from it for 3.5 months.  This new brand is AvKare.  Anyone else take it?  I've heard horror stories of generic brands and am scared to death to change.  Any advice?  Mira

I have been on Letrozole for about a month. About a week ago, my lower back started really hurting. Now, it is so bad that I can barely walk or get out of a chair. It hurts so much to even move my legs, so i cannot drive. I feel horrible!  I have also developed severe gastrointestinal problems.  I am stopping today to see if it getsmany better. I hadmto cancel my doctor appointment last week because I could not drive. I go in 2 days if i can get into the car. I just want to cry!