Forum Discussion

Maxymoo's avatar
Maxymoo
Member
4 years ago

Weird sensations in different parts of my body . Recently started Femera

Hi all, hope your all doing well in these difficult Omicron days. BC is difficult at the best of times let alone during a pandemic.
I have finished all my treatments and started on Femera last month and i have been getting these weird sensations. Sudden sharp stabbing pains anywhere in my body and insect bite like stinging sensations all over my skin. Am i going crazy or have others experienced similar. i was wondering if it was later effects of radiation which I finished last November or from chemo which ended in September  or related to recent aromatase inhibitor. Any advice would be appreciated 
chemotherapy-side-effects
letrozole
radiation
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    4 years ago
    That's terrific, @Maxymoo - long may it last!!  Femara/Letrozole can have a few!! 

    Write down anything 'weird' that you DO notice between now & your appts .... the date they start & when/if they stop ..... what it is .....  Hopefully they stay minimal, as now.

    take care & all the best xx
  • Maxymoo's avatar
    Maxymoo
    Member
    4 years ago
    Thank you so much Arpie for your info re AI and all the other comments. You ladies are a fountain of knowledge. i have been lucky and so far have not experienced many of the side effects listed not even hot flushes! I am still getting the odd tingling sensations but less worrying than before. I am due for my surgical and onc review next month so hoping for good news and can follow up re side effects.
  • Julez1958's avatar
    Julez1958
    Member
    4 years ago
    Hi there
    i haven’t experienced that but did experience soreness at the base of my right thumb after about 4 weeks on Letrazole and then it went away.
    I would book an appointment with your oncologist in the first instance to ask about it.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    4 years ago
    PS two of the pluses of Xarelto are not having frequent blood tests (I was having four a week at one stage for a couple of things!) and also not needing to watch everything you eat. Down side is not going off the medication in a hurry! 
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    4 years ago
    Thanks @arpie

    My GP is well aware of what I take - my Q10 info warns very clearly about taking Q10 with warfarin. Different type of blood thinner altogether. Xarelto advice doesn’t mention it.  As far as I can tell, Xarelto may reduce the effectiveness of the Q10 but that’s about all. But I’ll follow it up with my cardiologist. 
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    4 years ago
    @Afraser    Q10 literature indicates it should not be taken with Xarelto - maybe chat with your GP about it.
    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324113#drug-interactions.

    Q10 Drug interactions ...

    Taking statins may reduce the amount of CoQ10 in a person’s blood. StudiesTrusted Source have shown a significant reduction in plasma CoQ10 concentrations following treatment with statins.

    Additionally, CoQ10 may reduce the effectiveness of blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin, and this may increase the risk of blood clots.

    CoQ10 may also interfere with insulin and some chemotherapy medications.


    As mentioned previously, I would recommend everyone to discuss adding ANY meds for side effects, even over the counter or naturopathy stuff - to discuss it with their GP/Onc as it may interact badly with their own cancer meds.   Even Fish Oil Capsules can interact badly with Blood Thinning tablets - causing extra bleeding .... 

    I personally found that Medicinal Cannabis Oil helped with my side effects - and I now take nothing!  ;) 

  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    4 years ago
    @arpie
    I have been taking Q10 and Xarelto for years - both recommended by my cardiologist! It’s not listed anywhere I can find as contra-indicated, is there a source for the advice included regarding AIs?

    Many thanks 
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    4 years ago
    Hi @Maxymoo - congratulations on finishing your 'active treatment' .... don't forget that once this Covid thing settles down again, you can contact Otis Foundation for weekend or 5 day 'treat' at a property made available to them by wonderful philanthropic people!   www.otisfoundation.org.au you can go with friends family etc tho with Covid, I would imagine they are currently 'on hold' .....

    Yes, sadly the AIs can give all sorts of side effects, but I am pretty sure the stabbing pains were side effects from my radiation (which finished shortly before starting the tablets.) or even nerve endings around the wound site, that were reconnecting & giving me little electric shocks?  They were enough to take my breath away!!  You are still only a  couple of months out from the ed of your Radiation ..... so it 'could' be from that.

    Unfortunately, there are plenty of side effects on the AIs as well.  :( But the good news is that Not everyone gets any or all of the side effects, but I put a chart together from an existing one & added the ones members had 'got' as well .... and the list is extensive!  DO NOT BE SCARED by the list - as I said, NOT EVERYONE GETS ANY OR ALL OF THEM!  Tho you may experience some now & then.

    Take care & I hope the stabbing stops, as it is rather unpleasant xx



    and ways of mitigating any side effects .... tho talk with your Onc/GP before taking any or ALL these tabs!!