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janetph29's avatar
janetph29
Member
11 years ago

Femara

Anyone else stopped their hormone therapy early . I have full on osteoporosis now and it gets worse with each scan. I have 6 mthly zometa which isn't improving my bones at all. Been doing some research on the net and I've read that it would probably be ok to come off the femara. Onc. Suggested tamoxifen but I don want to go there at all..Be greatful for any advise .

8 Replies

  • Thanks for letting me know Michelle.I had to delay mine because I had a crown I wanted to do on a tooth!I am actually going for it this coming Saturday.Cheers Robyn
  • I just want to add my support to what the other ladies have said about tamoxifen. I have been on it for almost 8 months now and have only had mild hot flushes. No weight gain, no depression, no bad aches and pains or nausea.I thought it was making me tired but seem to be improving with this lately so maybe I was still getting over my treatment. There was a lady posted only last week about her situation. After stopping hormone therapy early she developed secondary breast cancer at the 5 year mark. As you can imagine she deeply regrets her decision. Why not give it a go? What issues have you read about that make you so worried? Deanne xxx
  • I just want to add my support to what the other ladies have said about tamoxifen. I have been on it for almost 8 months now and have only had mild hot flushes. No weight gain, no depression, no bad aches and pains or nausea.I thought it was making me tired but seem to be improving with this lately so maybe I was still getting over my treatment. There was a lady posted only last week about her situation. After stopping hormone therapy early she developed secondary breast cancer at the 5 year mark. As you can imagine she deeply regrets her decision. Why not give it a go? What issues have you read about that make you so worried? Deanne xxx
  • Thought I would let you know that I have recently had my 3rd jab of Prolia, and this time there have been no side effects - no night sweats, which were severe after the 1st, less after the 2nd - now non-existent!  Hope all was well after yours.  Michelle xx

  • You sound as though you are really struggling.I am 59 and have a low BMI also.However I don't work 9 hours a day out of the home.There is another lady on this blog that stopped her hormone therapy early and had a recurrence.I am hoping that she may see your post and reply to you.What is it about Tamoxifen that scares you? I think that it is helpful for me because it has the added benefit of helping my bones which is what I really need.Looking forward to your reply.Cheers xoxRobyn
  • So hard ... After reading up on tamoxaphen I dont want to go near it & fossamax has lots of bad reports too . Thinking I've done 31/2 The 5 year recommendation ... Why ... I'm 58 BMI of 17 work 9 hr days with the help Of pain killers .z can't socialise ....
  • Hi there, I stopped Femara after 2 years of hell! I put up with it as l wanted "the best there was" but decided l'd had enough. After speaking with my onc she supported me & told me that it is often that people change from 1 to another, and that even the 2 years I was on it was good for me. I can go back on it another time if I want to. But my decision was based on the fact that l wasn't having quality of life so there was no point suffering for another 3 years on it. When l first changed to Tamoxifen l went straight back to the beginning with the flushes as l had with Femara but they have eased a lot & much quicker than before. I don't have joint or bone pain anymore. It's been about 4 months now & l started feeling better after about 1 month. My decision was also based on lower back pain which after having a dexa scan revealed l had borderline osteoporosis. Probably from Femara. I am also taking Fosamax weekly which is a bone strengthener. I'm hoping Tamoxifen will help to reverse it too as l'm post menopause after having Orophectomy as part of my treatment. Overall I feel better. You may not need to stop your hormone therapy at all, just ask for other options. There are other sister drugs you may feel better taking. Hope this is of help to you.
  • Can I ask how old you are?I am on Tamoxifen,and I have been post menopause for about 7 years.I also have advanced osteoporosis.My oncologist wants to keep me on Tamoxifen because if you are post menopause,then Tamoxifen actually strengthens your bones,whereas if you are pre- menopausal it doesn't.I am more than happy to stay on Tamoxifen,because any of the Aromatase inhibitor drugs,are harmful to the bones,especially of you have osteoporosis.Tamoxifen is a very old and well known BC medication,and I am not having any real trouble with it.Maybe give it a go? I,think to stop taking hormonal therapy is very risky.All the best with what you decide.Cheers xox Robyn By the way,I am having 6 monthly Demosumab injections for my osteo .