evista

Sig

Hi everyone, last year my rheumatologist wants me to start prolia but due to ongoing problem with my teeth I kept postponing the injection. My score was L1-L4: -2.7, LFN: -2.9, Total Hip: -2.7. This year my score are L1-L4: -2.6, LFN: -2.8, Total Hip: -2.8 so they remains stable but I keep doing quite a lots of weight bearing exercises. In the means time I saw my oncologist and informed him about my fear of prolia due to my ongoing unresolved teeth problems (look like it is related to nerves) and he recommended evista or tamoxifen. However I have been googling about evista and I have seen articles that says evista should be avoided in women previously diagnosed with breast cancer hormone receptor positive as in some cases it can fuel cancer. Then why my oncologist recommended evista if it is not good for previous cancer patient. I have done a 5 years of femara and a 5 years of fosamax,stopped about 3 years ago. I am confuse about evista does it increase your chance of having a recurrence or not ?? anyone taking evista?

thanks

Sig

peggy_j

"However I have been googling about evista and I have seen articles that says evista should be avoided in women previously diagnosed with breast cancer hormone receptor positive as in some cases it can fuel cancer."

I've never heard this. Evista is similar to Tamoxifen. Can you post the link?

momoschki

I have been taking evista for about 2.5 years-- however, I was dx'ed with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) which is not cancerous, but puts me at higher risk for developing BC. So, it's a prophylactic measure, not a csncer treatment. My understanding is that evista is effective in reducing chances of developing cancer but is not indicated as a treatment for those already dx'ed with it. It is a SERM, like tamoxifen, first developed as a bone drug. Unlike tamoxifen, it does not affect the uterine lining and so there is no association with increased risk of endometrial cancer. I have not read anything about it potentially fueling cancer.

rvgirl2016

Momoschki,  would you mind me asking if you've had many side effects from Evista? I've been taking it for 9 months also as a prophylactic drug.  The first 6 months it didn't really bother me, but now I have some pretty sore muscles and a couple of joints that ache quite a bit. 

momoschki

It's hard to say about the side effects-- I have pretty bad hot flashes (mostly at night) and bad insomnia, but I had both of those before the Evista. My guess is that the Evista may be exacerbating those symptoms, but I won't know until I stop the drug. I'm willing to put up with this for whatever risk reduction this med affords me. I also have mild osteopenia, which is another good reason to keep taking ut

rvgirl2016

Thanks for replying.  I do get some hot flashes also, but nothing horrible.  It's hard to find many posts regarding people using Evista. 

Djabi53

I just started my second year of taking evista. It was recommended because I'm high risk for bc. Then I found out I also have osteoporosis. No real side effects. Recently I had my eyes examined and I have a cataract in each eye. The cataract in my left eye has slowly been developing for about 10 years but had changed quickly andneeds to be removed in a year. The cataract in the other eye is fairly new. I'm wondering if any of this is related to evista. If evista keeps me from getting bc then cataracts is a small price to pay, just wondering if there is a connection.

Frankie

Grammieshell

o my goodness. I also take Evista, only for 2 1/2 months so far, my side effects just started, which I though was weird.

Anyway, one of them is my eye sight has changed drastically. My eye doctor looked and said there's no tears or cataracts, etc. Just a huge difference in my vision, which he related to age, geesh, I'm only 45.

Sigh....

Samantha51

thx for this topic. I am considering Evista for my bones (osteopenia), and recently removed IBC. Concerned about the eyes with Evista. Any feedback on how your eyes are doing wld be appreciated. Thanks so much. Grateful for this web site.

Samantha

rvgirl2016

Hi Samantha51.   I just had my eye exam a couple of weeks ago.  My right eye was a little worse than two years ago, but the doctor said it was normal at my age lol.  I took Evista for one year then stopped to see if it was causing my severe arm pain.  The pain did decrease, but eventually I went to a orthopedist and he said it was bursitis.  Had a couple of cortisone shots and 5 weeks PT and the pain is gone.   So at my last oncologist visit I asked to try taking it again, so far so good, but I'll update if that changes.  Laura

Djabi53

Hi Samantha 51 - I posted earlier this year about cataracts and evista. i'll be 65 next month. I've just completed 2 years of evista. Prior to taking evista I had a very slow growing cataract for about 10 years that was not really affecting my vision. Last spring I had cataracts in both eyes and was told I could probably wait a year for 1 and probably longer for the 2nd cataract. By this fall, my vision was very poor - couldn't see to drive easily...... I just had cataract surgery on 1 eye with the 2nd scheduled for a few weeks. If evista keeps cancer away, I'm okay with cataract surgery. I've also been told that the younger you are to have cataract surgery (if you are going to need it) the better it is - surgery is always easier on a younger body. Are there other eye problems besides cataracts that are related to evista?

Frankie

Samantha51

thank you for writing!