Femara

armadillo1

Femara

armadillo1

I have had NED for 5 years and I am taking Femara now,  took Tamoxifen for a short time. How long do people keep  on Femara? I was told that they do not know what comes after Femara, it does make one very anxious. Could anyone give me some input.

pcrinks1

My doc told me that I would have to take it until I died. The new studies show that it ups your chances of not having a recurrence by a certain percent. I don't remember the exact figure he quoted.It is so expensive and my insurance won't pay for it because it's preventative medicine. I pay $332.00 a month for it and I guess I should be grateful we are able to pay it.

TenderIsOurMight

Armadillo,



I'm sorry, I didn't see this post either. The length of time on hormonals is actively being investigated, worked out by the researchers and clinicians so that they can give us an answer based on solid facts. For ER+ invasive breast cancer, there is no current agreement by all the experts on what to do after 5 years. Some feel in light of not having this knowledge it's ok to stop at five years, but others feel if a patient wishes to continue due to persistent risk (2% per year in node negative and 4% per year in node positive ER+ cancer) that it's o.k, with informed consent, to continue while data surfaces.



As to what comes after Femara, well there are the usual AI's, Arimidex, Femara and Aromasin (the last one has a slightly different mode of working and many choose it for this reason), and new AI's in the making.



I hope this helps some.

Tender





Dearest pcrinks1,



Oh, such a shame to hear your high monthly payment for a potentially life saving drug. Have you considered appealing your insurance's decision up the ladder: Femara and such are more therapeutic than preventative (in other words they are used in the presence of an invasive disease to help deter it from returning). This sounds atypical that an insurance would not cover it. Perhaps you might tell us more about your situation should you wish. Many women here have successfully appealed lack of coverage for a cancer drug, and even your state's Insurance Commissioner may wish to know about this denial of prescription coverage.



At some point too, if not soon, one of these AI's may be available generically. But still, one would think you insurance would see it best to deter disease than not.



I'm glad you found this site, and hope you'll visit again.



Best to you,

Tender

caaclark

After 1 1/2 years on Tamoxifen, my doc just switched me (last month) to Femara.  She told me I would be on it at least 5 years and then we will see what the data shows. I think she said something about researchers studying the survival of people who take it for 10 years as opposed to stopping after 5.  I am hoping that the data shows it to be beneficial and that I can continue to take it.  Psychologically, it is good for me to be taking a pill each day.  Makes me think I am not completely vulnerable.  I am amazed that such a little tiny pill could potentially save my life.  I have no side effects so far from it except for the once or twice daily hot flash.  But I had those on Tamoxifen also.  I hope the absense of severe side effects is not indicative of it not working.  I also sailed through chemo so maybe I am  just lucky.  Ok, well, I did not really sail through it but I functioned pretty well.

neesie

I really don't think the researchers and onc's now what is after the initial 5 years of Rx's.  When I started the journey I was told Tamoxofin for 5 years..within a year and a half they had changed it to Femara/Arimidex for post menopausal ladies after 2 years of Tamox.

I have now been on Femara for over 2 years and have been counting down the months until I hit a total of 5 years and can stop the med and hopefully stop the SE's that go with it!.......................But, now it looks like it may be with me (us) for alot longer!

FYI............I saw where WalMart is now offering Tamoxofin with their reduced drug prices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I believe it was $9 for 30 day or $24 for 90 day!    

I sure hope they follow suit with Femara and Arimidex soon.............I'd like to write them..........but don't know if it would be WalMart or the Drug Co....Any ideas?  Maybe if they received enough letters showing interest/concern in all the AI's.  I have no idea....just wishing and hoping!

Neesie