Kate13
10 years agoMember
Hormone Therapy
Hello everyone
My experience of cancer has been very gentle to date. Lumpectomy, clear margins and some lymph gland removal which revealed no spread. This was followed recently by only 16 sessions ...
Hi Kate
I have been on Femara for three and a half years ( I was 67 when diagnosed). I have had none of the arthritis-like or menopausal symptoms. I do have vaginal dryness and find inventive ways around this, and my bone density has declined a bit, but I started off with very good bone density for my age, it's not going to improve with age, some decline is inevitable and my oncologist seems reasonably happy that I will get to the end of my five years on Femara without any serious bone density loss.
I had a significantly sized tumour, one affected lymph node and so a mastectomy. I feel better taking this treatment as the cancer was quite fast growing. I have now got to the stage where breast cancer seems rather a long time ago, however cancer, and its treatment, is something I would prefer not to go through again if possible. I am still working, feel well and and planning my second longish overseas trip post cancer next month.
But you are wise to get some opinions as some people find the side effects close to unbearable. You can always stop the treatment if the side effects are too difficult, others have done this.
Good luck whatever you decide.