My first day on Femara

sbanks

I am a breast cancer survivor of 5-1/2 years. Today is my first day on Femara after taking Tamoxifen for 5 years. I stumbled on this website while researching Femara and have been reading stories of current bc patients for hours. I consider myself very lucky after reading so many of those stories.

I am looking for more bc survivors who have been on Femara for a longer period of time. I found two "sisters" on the board but they have only been on it for a short time. I wasn't sure I wanted to be on this medicine, but also didn't want to risk a reoccurrence. I am concerned about side affects.

I was so happy to find this site and can relay some good experiences to those fighting bc now.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

mjstrole

Hi! hope you do well on Femara. I have been on it since 11/30/03 after 5 years on Tamoxifen. I did really well on Tamox. For the first 3 weeks I was sick at my stomach, then I switched to the evening with food. I can tolerate this much better. My joints do hurt, but they did already as I have osteoporosis and some nerve damage from the chemo. I hope you do well, because research has shown some help from having a reoccurance.
Take care and be well. MJ

Sue_Glover

Hello roseofsharon
I have been taking Femara for almost 16 months now and haven't had any major problems. The main side effects for me seem to be joint and muscular problems ( in particular stiff and sore fingers)and hot flushes. Also, Femara can lead to a loss of bone density so it is important to eat a good
diet and to exercise regularly. I also take a calcium supplement.
I didn't want to start taking Femara and now wouldn't feel safe without it. I do get quite tired but I don't know if Femara is to blame.
Just curious about the cost of Femara in USA. In Australia it is $23.

sbanks

Hi mjs56 and mango,

Thanks for writing back. I haven't quite got this site down, apparently something in the way I set up my profile prevents me from replying to each of you directly.

Mango, my first month was free so I don't have a clue how much Femara costs in U.S. Then I will only pay a $10 copay each month. I will try to find out from the pharmacist and get back to you.

I do go to the gym 3x a week and walk everyday when it is nice, we've had a long and cold winter in Upstate, NY. I have a slight thinning in my spine anyway. I'll be 53 in June, they said it was normal for my age. I do take my calcium and eat right. I am overweight and have been trying to lose about 25 lbs. Since my mother had lung cancer and passed away in '95, I have been very careful. I try to stay away from white flour and sugar.

Thanks again for the response and keep in touch.

Surv5r2001

Mango, in reply to your question about the cost in US. I have a co-pay of $12 for a 2-month supply and the insurance company is billed $459.72 every 2 months. Good luck.
Kathy

Sue_Glover

Thank you Kathy
Sue

marti54

You guys are sure lucky.I live in Oklahoma and my Femara costs $230 per month for 30 pills.Thank god I have just filled my coinsurance so now will get totally reimbursed.I also have an AFLAC cancer policy that covers that drug up to $300 per month.I thank my lucky stars that I took out that policy BEFORE I was diagnosed

floss

Hi Marti. I am just starting Femara tommorrow . my prescribtion here in Canada for one month supply is $182.67 fortunately have drug plan and so does hubby. have u been on Tamoxafen and or any of other aromatase inhibitors. i was on tamo for 3 mths then had possible blood clot so got switched to Arimedex for 9 mths but was complaining to my oncologist today about joint and bone pain so she suggested trying this instead.

would be interested in staying in touch as i dont know any one else on femara.

Hugs Floss

junie

I would like to hear how the Femara folks do! I've got another 2 years on Tamoxifen and oncologist says he will then switch me to 2 yrs of Femara--ohh, joy, more medicine!!!

mamarama

Glad to see the posta on Femara. I, too, just finished Tamox in Nov. and started Femara. Too early to figure out if there are any side effects. My gyn said the hot flashes should end with Femara -- have yet to see that. Also, have had weight gain with Tamox. I know it is expensive. Here in Michigan, I believe it was over $200.00 for 30. Thank heaven I have Blue Cross. Anxious to hear what others have to say.


marge

moonie

I have been on Femara since May....it was my first hormonal treatment. I also had an oophoretomy in March, so I don't know if that was what caused my hot flashes or the Femara. However, i don't find them too bad. The only other thing with Femara is i think it makes me more tired than usual, so i take it at night. Good luck to you and i hope it works well for you!

mbsoxr

Hi Roseofsharon & all the rest of y'all...
I am 65 & had my 1st dx of BC 2 yrs ago - biopsy &then lumpectomy showed DCIS that was beginning to invade, had SNB with 2 + nodes, started on Tamoxifen and had 7 wks of rads... followups okay until mammo in early March 2005 showed "suspicious area" same breast... More mammos, ultrasound, biopsy & another lumpectomy - path came back as Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia... Onc much more concerned than my surgeon who rejected my pleas for a bilateral mast... Blood work done before this lump alerted onc to the notion that I needed a different type of drug, so he has switched me to Femara from the tamox... hot flashes returned temporarily, but joint & muscle pain has stayed for the 2 months so far... I see him again in 2 weeks... Am determined to lose 30 lbs - doing deep water aerobics 6 days/week & eating much more sensibly than I ever have... I can't go thru this stress again, so am determined to have the bilat mast if ever a "suspicion" arises again - my onc is very supportive of that now. Don't know the Femara cost yet, but it must be expensive, as onc gave me 2 months supply to start with - but, I have decided I am worth whatever the cost is!

Hugs to all of you, and let's hope Femara does the trick for all of us!!

Mary

Betsey

I have been on Femara for about a year now. I have had very few problems with it...hot flashes and mild joint pain in my shoulders. I also feel tired, but that's a side effect of every med I take, so it's to be expected. Hope you do well with Femara too
Joanie

msprenge

I started Femara in December after five years of Tamoxifen. I gained weight on Tamoxifen but finally got it under control with an extreme diet a year and a half ago. Since starting Femara, I have begun to gain weight again. The company says weight gain is not a side effect, but many websites say it is. Anyone else having this experience?
Marilee

AmryAnn47

I haven't been taking Femara very long but my oncologist is aware of my financial situation--my ins doesn't cover much & she has given me samples at my appt's. It is $230 here in TX at Costco for a 30 day Rx. I took it from 10/29 - 12/01 while I was having 15 rads to spine for mets & recovering from mod/rad mastectomy. I stopped during chemo & resumed on 4/28 a month after last chemo. Since I am stage IV I hope it works!!! I haven't gained weight but I am stiff & ache but I also have Zometa infusions every month which also have that side effect. I have found that glucosamine & chondroitin have helped & I take Femara at night & either the hot flashes are diminishing or they aren't as bad on that schedule--I am tired but just finished 33 rads to chest area & hot flashes at nite can interfere with one's rest . Good luck on it! Mary Ann

shelleyj14

I started Femara in April '05 after 5 years on Tamoxifen without problems I couldn't deal with. My hair started thinning after the first month and over the last month it is falling out in large amounts. If it keeps this up I'll be back to the wigs again. I can handle the hot flashes and joint pain which is minimal, but with this I dread washing my hair. Being cancer free is way high on my list, but this is disturbing. Anyone else dealing with this?

AmryAnn47

Hi shellyj,
I have been on Femara off & on for a year now--(didn't take it during chemo (12/6-3/28) had no effects on the hair before chemo but I still only have about 3/4" of VERY thin "crazy" hair which refuses to do anything but stick out in all directions with a bald spot at the crown.
The only thing I can figure is the Femara blocks all estrogen production & maybe that causes the "male pattern" baldness. I hate it because I am vain & don't want to look like my dad & I am still in wigs despite our extreme heat & humidity & being "swathed" for LE in my R arm!
Good luck with whatever you decide! Mary Ann

Leee

Hi shellyj

I have been on Femara for about 6 months-- and have had no effects on the hair.

Maybe ask the onco about trying different A.I. and see if you respond differently?!

Good luck and HUGS! Tri

nursecal

I was diagnosed with Stage IIIB, 14 of 32 + nodes in 8/04, double mastectomy (right prophylactic), finished chemo in 3/05 and 33 rads completed 5/05. My onc started me on Femara as my first prevention. The only side effects I have noticed is the stiff fingers. Tiredness might also be from the Femara, but am unsure. I was taking Effexor for hot flashes (extreme) prior to Femara, have just switched to Paxil, and the flashes have diminished tremendously. The suggestion of taking the meds at night is a good one, and I think I will try that with both the Femara and Paxil. I have lost weight since off the steroids with chemo, and hope to keep doing so (about 15 pounds). Am now investigating reconstruction (DIEP with Dr. Spiegel here in Houston). My visit with her today was very impressive and positive. The finger stiffness has improved since I started taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin with MSM. Was taking it without the MSM prior to this and it had no effect. You might want to try that. Just be certain to mention it when you are asked about meds, especially at surgery time, as it also works as a blood thinner in a way, like aspirin. Good luck and hope all goes well. Will continue to read this area as time passes to see if things change with Femara after being on it for a longer period of time.

drruth

I have been on Femara 8 mos. and having some pretty definite side affects - weight gain and joint pain, particularly in my hands, also causing trigger fingers. Anyone else with same problem? If you have been on it longer, do symptoms continue to get worse, when I stop taking the medication, will side affects also cease? Need some help with this as considering not taking it anymore.

nursecal

Femara was my first med after chemo, which I completed in March 2005, so I have been on it almost a year. Believe you me, I understand the hand pain and trigger fingers. I now have 4 of 5 trigger fingers in my right hand and 1 in my left. I had to d/c the Femara for my reconstruction which was done 1/18, was off it for 4 weeks, and the trigger fingers did not change. I did have hot flashes, but not as severely while I was off. As my ortho explained it, that sheath is now damaged, and it can't be corrected without surgery. So, I am having bilateral carpal tunnel release (had that prior to CA) and the trigger fingers corrected. I am praying that this will relieve the pain. I do have slight bone/joint pain since taking it, along with hot flashes, but I had the flashes prior to CA. I understand from my onc that Tamox can have even more side effects. She just mentioned another new drug that we might try if the fingers continue to decline after surgery, but can't remember the name. Hope you can get some relief somehow. Caren

jazzdust

Hi, I couldn't help but respond I was on Femara for 6 months. The bone pain became excruciating all over not just my hands. I have osteopenia and the side effects of this and all aromatose inhibitors like femara or arimidex cause bone density problems . There is a warning that women who are osteopenia should consider not taking it because of side effects. I quit taking it, a big gamble I know but I was really in constant discomfort. The pain subsided within one week. Just my experience, everyone's is different, but I hear the discomfort you are talking about. Unfortunately the medications correct one thing in a positive way and effect other things in a negative way
Carole

LiniWD

I have been on Femara for 8 months and, after the first month or so, have had very few side effects. However, I also have monthly infusions of Zometa, a bone densifier, and maybe that's why I don't have the joint pain.

Lynn

Shelby

I pay $25.00 for a month prescription because I have Blue Cross Insurance.  Without insurance, it is around $250. per month!

lbmt

hi, i just found this site, i have been on other's in the discussion board ,,i have been on femara almost 6 months, and after reading these stories now i understand all the pain i have been  having,

i think i would not have gone on it myself, but had my hubby to think of, he left the decission up to me, and know i have been told i have osteoporosis, and will be going on boniva, is there some one out there going thru the same thing?? but i still think i will try and stay on the femara, i have 4 more yrs left to be on it,, any thoughts,??

i would sure appreciate them,,,hugs, laurie

TenderIsOurMight

Laurie,



There's lots more on hormonals under the hormones topic. Some on Femera and some on Arimidex, which are a little more active with posts, should you be interested.



I'm nearing 5 years end of Arimidex: it's been a bit of a struggle but the result has been worth it to me.

I'm one who tends to worry about hormone disease and it's low but present recurrence rate. We're each different, so good luck.



Tender

poppy3

Hi, I have been on Femara for 2 and a half years after five on Tamoxifen.  First two years great, but for about six months I have been losing hair and the front bits are even thinner and are sort of crinkly and stick out.  Not behaving like normal hair at all.  I am due to come off Femara in about 6 months (although I was considering asking for longer).  Has anyone else had hair problems that have righted themselves after finishing medication or changing to another? I have always had thick hair and am find this quite distressing.

claudia00anne

Hello!! My name is Claudia and I live in Italy. I have been taking femara for one year now and I am tired all the time! My joints hurt and my hair isn't as thick as before...but my lung metastases are in regression!!!!Last year they gave me only a couple of years to life..BUT HERE I AM!!! I have been fighting against cancer for 16 years!!!So I  want to say that the side effects are a just little price to pay!!!

Here in Italy femara is free!!!!!

I hope you keep on fighting like I do!!!

Lots of hugs..Claudia

claudia00anne

Hello!! My name is Claudia and I live in Italy. I have been taking femara for one year now and I am tired all the time! My joints hurt and my hair isn't as thick as before...but my lung metastases are in regression!!!!Last year they gave me only a couple of years to life..BUT HERE I AM!!! I have been fighting against cancer for 16 years!!!So I  want to say that the side effects are a just little price to pay!!!

Here in Italy femara is free!!!!!

I hope you keep on fighting like I do!!!

Lots of hugs..Claudia

claudia00anne

Hello!! My name is Claudia and I live in Italy. I have been taking femara for one year now and I am tired all the time! My joints hurt and my hair isn't as thick as before...but my lung metastases are in regression!!!!Last year they gave me only a couple of years to life..BUT HERE I AM!!! I have been fighting against cancer for 16 years!!!So I  want to say that the side effects are a just little price to pay!!!

Here in Italy femara is free!!!!!

I hope you keep on fighting like I do!!!

Lots of hugs..Claudia

claudia00anne

Hello!! My name is Claudia and I live in Italy. I have been taking femara for one year now and I am tired all the time! My joints hurt and my hair isn't as thick as before...but my lung metastases are in regression!!!!Last year they gave me only a couple of years to life..BUT HERE I AM!!! I have been fighting against cancer for 16 years!!!So I  want to say that the side effects are a just little price to pay!!!

Here in Italy femara is free!!!!!

I hope you keep on fighting like I do!!!

Lots of hugs..Claudia