Femara going to turn me into an 80 years old??

InTwoPlaces · December 2010

I didn't know that I am supposed to take Femara for 5 years until a couple of days ago. Most likely because I switched to a new Oncologist and none of them mention it until I asked my Dr at the last appointment I had.

I'm 56 years old (and as the Dr's has said; a Young 56 year) and now I'm reading all the SE of Femara and to be honest, it scares me a lot!!

It seems like this pill will turn me into at least 80 years old and I'm not prepered for this! I love to travel with my DH and I still want to have a great sexlife with him, but it seems like this will be taken away from me. Joint pain, difficult to walk, hair thinning, weight gain and decresed Libido, is this what's ahead of me??

Also, I'm a very weak ER positive, only 37 %, will the benefit of Femara even outweigh the Side Effects.

I knew that I have to take Herceptin for a year but stupid as I was I thought my treatment was over when I had my last Herceptin infusion.

My Dr told me not to think so far ahead, but it seems like it's the only thing on my mind now.

karen1956 · December 2010

In 2 places.....please know that some people have no side effects at all from AI's...here you hear about all the complaints and miserable side effects, but there are lots of people with manageable side effects or none at all....I don't know the statistics, that is something maybe your onc can give you....for me the benefits of AI's were great, but I only lasted 3 1/2 years...I'm one of those people that if there is a side effect I have it!!!! Hugs to you

InTwoPlaces · December 2010

Karen,

thank you for your reply! May I ask what kind of SE you had?

Carina

karen1956 · December 2010

Carina....I started off on Arimidex 3 weeks post chemo and had horrid joint pain, swollen hands in the morning and developed CTS in both wrists within 4 or 5 months.....because I was miserable and wanted to quit after only 7 or 8 months, onc switched me to Femara...the 1st two weeks were great, then the joint pain came back with a venegence...so on to tamox for two months....too many GI problems, but CTS went away...I already had surgery on one wrist and was waiting on the other...so that was a plus.......a 2 week break then Aromasin.....joint pain, insomnia, depression, vaginal dryness, lack of libido, hair thinning (I had to re-read your post to remember some of these!!!) cognitive issues, memory and deQuervanes tendonitis in both wrists that necessitated surgery....I endured all I could...for me QOL was more important than staying on the AI's....3 1/2 years had to have some benefit....I know my onc really did not want me to stop, but agreed to let me after hearing me complain so much.....My BC was strongly ER and PR and onc keeps telling me that the AI's have a significant benefit for me, as much as the chemo....I stopped 9 months ago and onc keeps reminding me that to let him know if I want to go back on the AI's....I continue to see him every 3 months so he keeps a close eye on me....I figure either the BC will come back or it won't...and that I gave it my all...I am at peace with my decision, but I strugged with quitting for a long time.....the side effects slowly went away, though I am not to where I was before Dx...don't know if its becasue of the chemo, AI's or just being 4 1/2 years older!!! BTW, I'm not far behind you in age...I'm 54....Again, please remember that many women have no side effects...also sometimes women will struggle on one AI, then switch and do great.....Give the Femara a try and see how you do on it....Hugs, Karen

encoremom · December 2010

Carina, I was a "young" 52 when I started taking Arimidex which is another AI similar to Femara. I've been on the medication for a little over two years now. Although I feel like I look my age now, the side effects for me haven't been that bad. Yes, I have some joint pain, some hot flashes (which have decreased over time) and some dryness, but exercise helps me and I haven't really gained much weight. I would say all in all the Arimidex hasn't changed my life that much. Give Femara a try for a few months and see how it goes with you - and stay active! Hugs....Debbie

InTwoPlaces · December 2010

Karen and Debbie,

Thank you so much for your replies! It seems like this decease never give us a break!

I will see how Femara effects me, but reading about it doesn't give me a lot of hope about the SE.

For me the QOL is also very important and I guess I just have to wait and see. Undecided

((((Hugs))))

Carina

maltomlin · December 2010

Hi Carina

I have been taking femara for just over two years and, like you, was 56. I've not really had any problems to speak of - felt a little nauseous the first couple of weeks, aching feet in the morning (that lasted a couple of months) but otherwise just fine.

It hasn't changed the way I live my life at all and there must be thousands of others exactly the same. I agree with Karen that people who suffer no side effects don't tend to post on here, it's only when there's a problem that you get to read about it.

So give femara a chance and see how you get on for a few months. You could be pleasantly surprised.

Take care. Malx

GIJan · December 2010

I've been taking Femara for two months and, like many of you, feared the side effects of joint and muscle pain, hot flashes (had my fill of those during 'the change'), drop in libido (BC has taken much of the heat out of our bedroom anyway) and all the other SE on record. So far I've noticed no side effects but I know it's pretty early in the game. The most important thing is to stay active physically in combination with a PMA. So I can't tell if the occasional sore muscle I feel is from Femara or the aerobic weight lifting class I take at the Y. Most trial reports I've read combined three years of tamoxifen with two years of Femara but my onc is saying I'll be on Femara for five years. Anybody else have the combo? And how do you feel?

Femara going to turn me into an 80 years old??

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