Femara vs Tamoxifen
Hello all,
I have been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 yrs and thinking of switching to Femara. I am 47, was hoping I could get my period back after these treatments, but now I just want to be without side-effects, or have less! I still have neuropathy from chemo treatments 2 years ago, stiff hands and feet, sore legs, dry eyes, fatigue, headaches, etc... the list goes on. And I have had serious chest pains twice since treatment started.
Anyhow, just wondering if it is worth it to try Femara...
I eat fish twice a week, other am vegetarian, take flaxseed oil & Vit.D. As a yoga instructor, I pratice yoga daily. I think I would be alot worse off without it. It has been a huge 'positive' in my life since the diagnosis. I also practice meditation most days, it helps a great deal with my mood, pain and general well-being. I've also started working out at the gym, which has been quite a challenge for me (I prefer the great outdoors 
, but I feel alot better since doing so. It strengthens the bones and is good for the mind.
Any advice you might have on the switch from Tamoxifen to Femara, or if there are other any other meds out there that might be gentler, would be greatly appreciated.
Be well girls. Keep the positive attitude, and keep breathing
Comments
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I am 47 too and I've been on tamoxifen for about 10 months. I do get hot flushes but they started after chemo and before the tamoxifen. Sometimes I wonder whether it is the tamoxifen that causes me to wake at 5am most days. But really I can't be sure tamoxifen is causing me any side effects. I guess I'm lucky in that respect.
I had one period in between finishing chemo last August and starting tamoxifen in January but none since. My oncologist thinks I'm menopausal and has suggested switching me to one of the aromatase inhibitors (AIs) like femara. Apparently the AIs like femara are slightly better at preventing a recurrance of BC in post-menopausal women.
However, I am quite reluctant to switch over because tamoxifen isn't causing me any major problems and I don't like the sound of the side effects the AIs give you. Apparently it is very common for women taking them to have joint pain and stiffness. Brittle bones are also a risk. Also, from what I've read, they leave you with no libido at all and can lead to vagninal dryness and atrophy, Yep, a shrivelled up vagina. Not very appealing is it.
The thing is the aromotase inhibitors block the production of estrogen in your body entirely. So the way I look at it, they are a fast track to old-ladyhood. I accept I'm getting older but I'm not ready for creaky joints and to lose my sexuality completely. Taxmoxifen on the other hand allows you to keep your estrogen (or what's left of it at 47). It just blocks the estrogen from feeding any stray cancer cells that may be left in our bodies.
Look I may be wrong Nick cause I haven't actually tried an aromotase inhibitor. Maybe they're not as bad as I fear. And I guess if it was a choice between dying of cancer and taking AIs I would certainly take them. But while I have the option of tamoxifen, I'm sticking with that. Of course tamoxifen does pose the small risk of uterine or endometrial cancer so there is no easy answer to this question.
Good luck with your decision. Janet.
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I am 47 too and I've been on tamoxifen for about 10 months. I do get hot flushes but they started after chemo and before the tamoxifen. Sometimes I wonder whether it is the tamoxifen that causes me to wake at 5am most days. But really I can't be sure tamoxifen is causing me any side effects. I guess I'm lucky in that respect.
I had one period in between finishing chemo last August and starting tamoxifen in January but none since. My oncologist thinks I'm menopausal and has suggested switching me to one of the aromatase inhibitors (AIs) like femara. Apparently the AIs like femara are slightly better at preventing a recurrance of BC in post-menopausal women.
However, I am quite reluctant to switch over because tamoxifen isn't causing me any major problems and I don't like the sound of the side effects the AIs give you. Apparently it is very common for women taking them to have joint pain and stiffness. Brittle bones are also a risk. Also, from what I've read, they leave you with no libido at all and can lead to vagninal dryness and atrophy, Yep, a shrivelled up vagina. Not very appealing is it.
The thing is the aromotase inhibitors block the production of estrogen in your body entirely. So the way I look at it, they are a fast track to old-ladyhood. I accept I'm getting older but I'm not ready for creaky joints and to lose my sexuality completely. Taxmoxifen on the other hand allows you to keep your estrogen (or what's left of it at 47). It just blocks the estrogen from feeding any stray cancer cells that may be left in our bodies.
Look I may be wrong Nick cause I haven't actually tried an aromotase inhibitor. Maybe they're not as bad as I fear. And I guess if it was a choice between dying of cancer and taking AIs I would certainly take them. But while I have the option of tamoxifen, I'm sticking with that. Of course tamoxifen does pose the small risk of uterine or endometrial cancer so there is no easy answer to this question.
Good luck with your decision. Janet.
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Hi Nick.We all react different.
Im 43 like u still have pain from chemo.mine is in my feet,fingers and bones.
I started on an Ai similiar to Femera.Omg- The pain-I was in agony from this drug.Deep bone pain all my other symptoms worsened.They were giving me morphene patches 4 the pain.I decided I needed quality of life not in agony every day.
My oncologist convinced me to try Tamoxifin.Ive been on it now for 3 mnths.Its much more tolerable.I still have pain but nowhere near what i did on the Ai.Ive gained about 5 kgs and my hot flushes have worsened.
Hope this helps.Annie0 -
Hi Nick.We all react different.
Im 43 like u still have pain from chemo.mine is in my feet,fingers and bones.
I started on an Ai similiar to Femera.Omg- The pain-I was in agony from this drug.Deep bone pain all my other symptoms worsened.They were giving me morphene patches 4 the pain.I decided I needed quality of life not in agony every day.
My oncologist convinced me to try Tamoxifin.Ive been on it now for 3 mnths.Its much more tolerable.I still have pain but nowhere near what i did on the Ai.Ive gained about 5 kgs and my hot flushes have worsened.
Hope this helps.Annie0 -
Hello all,
Well 3 years after being diagnosed with EBC (Her2+) it appears I now have Metastatic breast cancer that has appeared in the bone (femur). AFter limping for 7 months, I had a fall mopping the floor and when I was operated on for a fractured femur they found metastatis in the femur. After spending 8 weeks in hospital, being back at home now since 2 weeks and having started my 1st chemo treatment yesterday, the realization of it all is sinking in. I have had ups and downs since returning home, but having great support from family and friends, doing daily meditation and yoga, as well as some vizualization and art therapy, I am feeling hopefull that I can beat this thing. I will beat it!
Still, having the oncologist tell me about being on chemo for 4-6 months, and receiving Herceptin for the rest of my life (ouch!) as well as other meds monthly for 2 years (foget the name - helps reduce calcium in the blood), was a bit daunting... Still I power on, and think with every thing I do along with the traditional treatments, it empowers me to live a full and meaningful life, and not worry too much about the "how many years left to live", "what if's", etc... I believe to make the most of this present day is what is most important, and also to have a sense that I have a major part in my healing process.
I would love to hear about anything that has empowered you ladies in this journey, and/ or any advice you might have to help with the bone pain, and about using our brain to heal ourselves. I am also interested to hear what herbs have helped you, being a student of herbalist therapy. It is nice to know there is this group that we can express and share on, and that with each others help, we can grow stronger and wiser together
May you all be happy and at peace,
Annick
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Oops, forgot to ask, have any of you delt with preventing neuropathy? Yesterday I ried ice therapy as one of the chemos I am getting has it as side effect, and since I already have a bit of neuropathy from 3 years ago (EC and Taxol), I am trying to prevent it from getting any worse.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!
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Hi Nick, I was put on Tamoxifen in 2009 following chemo and radium. I thought the side effects were bad (aching legs, dry skin etc). About a year ago my doctor changed me to Femara. For me this is much worse. Osteo, constant back pain, leg pain, dry eyes. I'm usually a pretty tough cookie, but I have made an appointment to see my GP on Monday to discuss with the specialist if I can go back on the Tamoxifen.
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Hi Nick, I recently had TAC for a HER2+ secondary breast cancer (no primary located).....
anyway......they used ice therapy on my hands and feet and as uncomfortable has it was I think it worked. I don't have neuropathy whereas my sister in law (who had TAC 2 years ago) was not offered the ice therapy and she does have bad neuropathy.
Good luck with it
Lucy0 -
Thanks for that Lucy,
I have been doing ice therapy and fasting the day and morning before chemo, and these seem to help. I do have what seems to be worse neuropathy in my left foot, but I think this is because of Rx and surgery following a fracture ofmy left femur (because of mets ) last July. Doing the ice and fasting, I am hoping will reduce the neuropathy from getting worse.
Thanks for your reply, and keep well.
PS What is TAC
Annick
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Hi Annick
TAC is just an acronym for the range of chemo drugs used.
It is a combination of docetaxel (Taxotere), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphomide (Cytoxan) (TAC).
Best of luck with the neuropathy.
What does the fasting assist with?
Lucy0 -
Hi Annick
TAC is just an acronym for the range of chemo drugs used.
It is a combination of docetaxel (Taxotere), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphomide (Cytoxan) (TAC).
Best of luck with the neuropathy.
What does the fasting assist with?
Lucy0 -
Hi Lucy!
Thanks for that.
The fasting has been shown to reduce side effects of chemo, when fasting the few days before treatment. It puts healthy cells in defense mode, in a nutshell, and it would also assist with have a reinforcing effect on unhealthy cells. Have a look at this website, if it interests you:
http://www.canceractive.com/cancer-active-page-link.aspx?n=3408
Annick
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