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Beekay's avatar
Beekay
Member
11 years ago

What's been your experience/side effects of Femara?

Hello, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer in March, with lumpectomy early April. No lymph nodes were affected, but had 8 removed from that side. I was told that further surgery was needed as a bigger margin had to be taken from the tumour site, then 7 weeks of radiation. I opted to have a double mastectomy instead. I started on Tamoxifen but became really depressed, then angry, then depressed, etc. so stopped taking that. My surgeon gave me a script for Femara, aromatase inhibitor, but I haven't started it yet. I read about some of the side effects which can be bad. Has anyone been on an aromatase inhibitors? If so what were your experiences with side effects? Would love to know.
depression
mastectomy
tamoxifen
travel-insurance
  • HazelB's avatar
    HazelB
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Bronwyn, i'm glad my post was helpful. yes in my case, as in everyone's i imagine hearing the diagnosis is never easy. Happily, in my case though - its so far so good and really one thing that i've learnt is to be grateful for every day.

    Good luck with the Tamoxifen - i'd be interested to hear how you go. There are many ladies on t and probably lots of posts on this site

    Take care,

    Hazel

  • Beekay's avatar
    Beekay
    Member
    11 years ago
    Thanks Hazel, I really do appreciate you replying and it was very helpful. You have had a pretty rough time too, and the cancer coming back in your lung must have been one hell of a shock! Are you 100% now? I stopped taking Tamoxifen because I started feeling depressed (which is so not me) so I stopped taking it. At that time not only had I had the double mastectomy, but also one of my precious dogs died suddenly, then my dear friend interstate got upset with me over something that I said ... a 30+ year friendship on the rocks due to her misunderstanding me ... so perhaps it was actually ME being sad and depressed rather than the Tamoxifen making me that way or exacerbating it. During a sleepless time last night I mulled it all over (again!) and have decided to start Tamoxifen again, beginning today. If I get those symptoms again I know that it is definitely the Tamoxifen so then will consider what to do. From reading many articles and comparing charts, etc., I think that, from a side effect point of view, Tamoxifen versus Femara, Tamoxifen is the lesser of two evils. Keep well, and thank you. Bronwyn
  • HazelB's avatar
    HazelB
    Member
    11 years ago

    Hi Beekay, wow what a journey you've been on - sounds as though you're doing really well. I'm not sure whether my experience will be of direct use  as I was diagnosed in 2005 with invasive ductal breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy, and then as the margins weren't good a masectomy. Like you my lymph nodes were clear. so i didn't need chemo or radiation

    The oncologist offered me Tamoxifen but whlst the improvement to my risk sounded pretty impressive when i asked the risk in absolute terms i think the Tamoxifen made a 2% difference which i didn't think was enough compensation to willingly go through memopause twice. So i declined.

    But after 6.5 clear years, it came back in my lung - and the oncologist put me on Femara, which i took for 9 months or so. The side effects can be aching joints (though i took fish oil supplements (metagenics DHA/EHA) so did not experience that. Hot flushes (but i'm menopausal anyway so again this wasn't an issue for me) and it can lead to bone density loss which i was concerned about because i knew my bone denisty wasn't the best. I was taking metagenics Osteoplus.

    I recently had my bone denisty checked and it was ok. Personally i'm not a great fan of taking long term medications and prefer to manage through diet/ lifestyle. One great book is "Five to Thrive" by Dr Lise N Alshuler and Karolyn A Gazella.

    Hope that helps, take care

    HazelB