Femara - Side Effects

epastore and jpann,

I have been taking femara for about 3 months. The first 2 weeks I started on it, my hair got noticeably thinner. My oncologist said that was from negating the estrogen and that would not change. I also find that I feel very achy. I am leaning toward not taking it and using Lugol's iodine to negate the estrogen, which, I am already taking anyway. My oncologist DID approve of the Lugol's and said that the fact that my lumps in my left breast were smaller than previous mammogram showed "could" be from the Lugol's.

I am also in a local support group where several of the ladies "chose" not to take it (the Femara), for various reasons from cost to side effects.

I would encourage you to do some research on your own and especially Susan Weed's information on herbs in her book Breast Health and Patrick Quillin's Beating Cancer With Nutrition.  I was able to get both books from my local library, but also both have web sites.

Do a ton of research and trust your "inner being".  If you are one who needs the medical confirmation on things than that plays a part in "your" decision.  My personal outlook is that it is body, mind and spirit and without some of the inspirational books and complimentary therapies I used, I don't think I would be here with medicine alone.  It is a very personal decision though and some minds are not open to it..... and that is ok.  It's "YOUR" body.... no one else can make the decision for you.

Peace and Love,

Carol

I'm on my 2nd month of Femera,and so far so good.No new SE'S.I was on Aromasin for about 2 mos and it gave me all sorts of problems.I could hardly put one foot in front of the other when on aromasin.Every bone,joint and muscle hurt,hot flashes,very fatigued etc.Called the oncologist and told him i couldn't live like that as that wasn't living.So he told me to stop it til i saw him in 3 weeks,at which time he switched me to Femera.

On Femera i've been able to vacuum my whole house without having to stop and rest every 2 minutes,and have also been working in my gardens.So that's a good thing!!

Went to the onc today for a check up and all is good except for a couple lumps that came up on my body,one on my wrist,the other on the side of my neck where the port is.So tomorrow i have to go get a doppler scan on my neck.He thinks the one on the wrist may be a cyst,so told me to go to my pcp to have it taken care of.The one on the wrist came up after just 4 days on the aromasin,the neck thing started after chemo started.

Kathi

Hi Everybody,

I have been on Femara since March 2006, beside some hot flushes at the beginning, I have a very positive experience with it. I have been on Anti-depressants maybe that's why it didnt effect me.

I am not a doctor, you can always start and see how your body will take it.

Good Luck

Sheila