Femara Side Effects

After having a lumpectomy and going through radiation, my oncologist suggested I take Femara as I had gone through a TIA (transeschemic (spelling?) attack once which made me a high risk for clots. Tamoxifin was the gold standard 5 years ago and probably still is for first time cancer survivors just out of radiation and or chemo, but that carried a higher risk for clotting.

Over the past almost 5 years, I have experienced many of the above symptoms and am experiencing them still and never put two and two together. I have the muscle and joint pain, hair thinning, forgetfulness, weight gain, HOT FLASHES and other symptoms that may or may not be related to this drug. I asked my surgeon about how long I should take Femara and I was not given a definite answer because she is not my oncologist, so I understand. I don't have an oncologist as I have been having my prescription renewed by my GP. I have had several bone density tests, the last one revealing some damage. I will get another soon.

The reason for comment is for others to see what can happen and to stay up on all your meds and don't be like me and think just because I'm approaching 60 I should feel like I'm 80.

My 93 yr. old mother-in-law had less pain than I before she recently passed away. I could never understand why I felt so much more pain, yet I didn't take anything for it because I didn't want more medicines.

Just be aware, do your research or have someone help you if you don't know where to look. Nothing is an exact science and we all are keepers of our own bodies. Doctors are there to help us make choices not take over for us. They know that, but sometimes we forget.

I am not mad at anyone other than myself as I am fully responsible. I tossed my Femara out today and I sure hope those pains and hot flashes eventually disappear.

Also my step-mother who has had breast cancer twice stopped taking tamoxifin after her second cancer and is doing well after over 5 years.

Thank you thank you thank you....I thought I was going nuts, falling apart and at 54 I was sure I had aged 25 years in two years. Lobular BC in 2004, 6 mos chemo, 2 lumpectomies and finally (my decision because I was tired of messing around with it) a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction. 1 miserable hot, sweaty, depressing year on Tamoxifen. I was going to discontinue the Tamoxifen as I was so very miserable, I mean chemo was a walk in the park compared to tamoxifen. My onc asked me to give Femara a try and I've been on it for a year...a miserable, depressing, fat, hot, sweaty, balding, achey, swollen hands and feet year.
I really am not one to dare fate but in all honesty, I'm ready to discontinue the Femara and the huge doses of Wellbutrin and Effexor that are supposed to help control the side effects of the Femara and just try to get some quality of life back. I'm so sick of pills and feeling bad. I used to be active and fun and I'm just not any more. I want to ride my horse, go hiking and skiing, go rock climbing again. Heck, I'd just like to fit into my ski and hiking clothes again...
I'm glad I found this board because I was trying to decide if it was real or if I was just depressed but I think its real. Thank you all so much.

this is the first time ive read any of this... i nver knew there was a place i could check up on chemo,femara,n tamoxifin side effects.. ive been having the joint aches,trigger fingers thinning hair, nerve cramps (SEVERE!)TIREDNESS... I CANT BELIEVE THIS ALL!! im 69 and thought it was all part of old age!! and somtimes its hard for some of my family to believe it all too.. ive also been told that the pain in my tailbone is arthritis.. now im wondering if thats the reason...its not as bad for me as some of you all have suffered... butfor lack of starting on something else i suppose i will stick with what i have, as i could be worse off i guess... at least now i will know that theres a reason why ive got these symtoms and not that ive aged suddenly... thankyou for giving me some explinations for this all!i was diagnosed in oct 1999 stge 2 had lumpectomy, and ten lyphnodes removed..

I am just finishing my 5 years of Tamoxifen (no major side effects) and my onco now wants me to take Femara for 5 years. During my course of Tamoxifen, the onco told me to try Aromasin. I had the worst side effects...terrible increase in my migraines, hair loss, joint pain, etc., so she put me back on Tamoxifen.

I do not want to take Femara but I am terrified not to. Has anyone not followed doc's advice and not taken Femara?

i took tamoxifen for five years, then oncologist put me on femara. I have aching legs, joints and bones... recently started headaches...
I am sure when i first went on femara the oncologist said it woud be for life.
But when I complained of thining of my private parts... he said stop taking it. Do I go back to a reasonable sex life and risk death.. or keep on taking femara... no one seems to know how effective it is.. and how long you have to take it.

I have been taking Femara for infertility.
During the time right directly before ovulation and directly before menstration I appear to have psychotic episode, or better described as the most sever PMS mood swings imaginable. I have fits of rage and sudden emotional out-burts. This is not me. I have always been Mrs. Cool, Calm, and Collected. Shortly after an episode I feel as if my heart is going to stop, and I feel like perhaps my blood has been boiled.
Of course there are the night sweats, the fluid retention and the aches, pains, and exteme fatige.

Has anyone else taken this for infertility? If so, what has the outcome been?

I must be a renegade here because I refused chemo and am now refusing Femara. After surgery (partial mast) and radiation I have gone on doctor-recommended fruit-vegetable diet, exercising 30 mins day at least 5 days a week. Vit D-3 (also doctor-rec) and doing Eastern methods to boost immune system (acupuncture, Qigong, Reiki). I've lost 15 pounds (wasn't heavy anyway) just about given up alcohol and look and feel better than past 10 years.

I read Ralph Moss "Questioning Chemotherapy" prior to my decsion to decline that and am now reading what everyone here is saying about A/I. As a biologist I also appreciate the seriousness of totally upsetting the balance of the endocrine system It seems counter-intuitive to go on a drug that will age me and make me fat and crippled when the NCI itself says exercise and weight magement are key to prevention. My stomach does not tolerate any NSAIDS so pain management would not be easy if I took this route. My B
P is also a bit marginal now, probably in part due to the cancer fight over the past 4 months, including the stress of this decision. Any increase will force me onto BP meds which have their own set of side-effects. I understand that there is a risk of getting bc back. But that risk is always there. Right now I want to choose wellness.

My husband is 78, 20 years older than I, and we are looking forward to the next 5 years as probably some of the best. Just became empty nesters, enjoy walking together in the mountains and being active. Why turn these years into hell so that I can maybe add some more of the same?

Anyone else reaching the same ?

Bravo! The voice of common sense!

paula wrote:

I must be a renegade here because I refused chemo and am now refusing Femara. After surgery (partial mast) and radiation I have gone on doctor-recommended fruit-vegetable diet, exercising 30 mins day at least 5 days a week. Vit D-3 (also doctor-rec) and doing Eastern methods to boost immune system (acupuncture, Qigong, Reiki). I've lost 15 pounds (wasn't heavy anyway) just about given up alcohol and look and feel better than past 10 years.
I read Ralph Moss "Questioning Chemotherapy" prior to my decsion to decline that and am now reading what everyone here is saying about A/I. As a biologist I also appreciate the seriousness of totally upsetting the balance of the endocrine system It seems counter-intuitive to go on a drug that will age me and make me fat and crippled when the NCI itself says exercise and weight magement are key to prevention. My stomach does not tolerate any NSAIDS so pain management would not be easy if I took this route. My B
P is also a bit marginal now, probably in part due to the cancer fight over the past 4 months, including the stress of this decision. Any increase will force me onto BP meds which have their own set of side-effects. I understand that there is a risk of getting bc back. But that risk is always there. Right now I want to choose wellness.
My husband is 78, 20 years older than I, and we are looking forward to the next 5 years as probably some of the best. Just became empty nesters, enjoy walking together in the mountains and being active. Why turn these years into hell so that I can maybe add some more of the same?
Anyone else reaching the same ?

Joan Wagner wrote:

I was on Femara for 7 months. This drug made me so sick that I have stopped taking it. I could live with thinning hair and hot flashes but the joint and muscle pain were unbearable. I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. This started with tingling and numbness in both hands and progressed to losing fine motor skills, trigger finger, and lots of pain. I also suffered from decreased energy, memory loss, depression, you name it I got it. I don't mean to sound like a complainer, but I did not suffer as much as I have with this drug through my two surgeries, 4 chemo treatments and 37 radiation treatments. I was crippled while taking the drug and the quality of my life was not good. I am only 58 and I felt like 90.

My name is Brenda and I am 48 years old and I feel the same way you do I was taking the femara for 3 months and yes I felt like it was worst that the 2 surgerys I had and the chemo treatments. My guality of life is not good so I am not going to take it any more what I would like to know is what did your MD say when you told him you were not going to take it any more. I feel so much better not taking it but at the same time I am concerned that the cancer will come back. How about you. please respond. Thank you

I have been on Femara for two years and life is getting better. At first, I could not exercise due to the stiffness, work up all the time, hot flashes were unbelieveable and mood swings were unpredicatable. Now, I take glusosamine daily, exerise, sleep well and feel better. Hot flashes occur sometimes but then again I am now menopausal. I think alot of what I experienced had to do with not exercising during chemo and radiation (would never handle this the same way again) and were side effects that I attributed to Femara. That said, I did change from Arimidix to Femara because I found no relief from any symptons with that drug. I take it everday because the 2% decrease of recurrance is worth it to me.