FEMARA

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  • gardengumby
    gardengumby Member Posts: 7,305
    edited July 2012

    Scottiee - my hair started falling out and I began taking biotin.  I'm taking 8000 mcg per day and am no longer losing hair like I was.  I also use Kerastase shampoo and masque, which I think helps with the dryness. 

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Thank you for the advise...I have been taking 2000 but I guess that's not enough, and I will try the shampoo because my hair is also so dry.

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  • Joan811
    Joan811 Member Posts: 2,672
    edited July 2012
    GrandmaV,
    I found the strontium drug fascinating.  I knew that strontium can replace calcium in the body in bones  But it is normally radioactive.  So I found out that they separate out the radioactive atoms from the non-radioacive strontium.  This is a positive approach - I think it is still being tested in the US but not sure.
    I have been on Letrozole since February (5 mos.) and mood swings are common.  I have very thick hair and I do not notice it falling out.  I do not think it causes weight gain - perhaps water retention (similar to PMS, menopause).  But the mood swings have sometimes been why I grab the wrong foods.  I am able to walk every day and I also eat a modified South Beach diet.  I managed to lose about 10 pounds in 10 days; but eating bad for 2 days and not walking gave me back 3 pounds.  I got more than I wanted there.
    It is getting to be a battle at this age (60+) even though I am very active and working.
    Overall, the Femara generic is tolerable.
    Best wishes to everyone here....we do have to fight for that "normal" life by doing all we can to stay healthy.  With that, I need sleep!
    Joan
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  • nanna
    nanna Member Posts: 174
    edited July 2012

    I can't take this joint pain and feeling awful all the time. Calling my onc tommorrow about taking a break from this little pill.

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  • Joan811
    Joan811 Member Posts: 2,672
    edited July 2012
    Nanna, I hope you can feel better with a break.  Sometimes a switch of generic makes it more bearable. Good luck with this
    Joan
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  • gardengumby
    gardengumby Member Posts: 7,305
    edited July 2012

    Had my 3 month checkup with the oncologist yesterday.  The good news is I now don't have to return for 6 months!!  Smile.  Unfortunately, we also discussed my plan for taking a one month vacation from letrozole in December.  She's no longer OK with it.  Apparently a study of men with prostrate cancer just came back.  They had been of the opinion that it was OK to give men breaks from their cancer medication, but when they did a comparative study of men who've been given breaks and men who had not been given breaks - well, the men given the breaks didn't have nearly as good an outcome long-term.  Soooo, I guess no break for me Frown. 

    Also, she had been including the 6 months I was on tamoxifen as part of the 5 year hormone therapy.  It sounded to me like she no longer felt that it should be included either.  So, I guess I've got another 4 year and 4 mos of this stuff.  She (my oncologist) said that they are finishing up a study comparison of 5 years and 10 years, to see if 10 years gives more benefit, and if it did - she'd want me on it for 10 years Yell.  I don't think I can do 10 years of it, even if it does provide a better long term outcome - let's face it, I'm 62 - just how much more "long term" would it be anyway...  Undecided.

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  • FilterLady
    FilterLady Member Posts: 407
    edited July 2012

    Garden:

    congrats on your good checkup.......6 months!!!! I know you are glad of that.

    I'm still on every 4 months but hope to move to 6 months after next checkups and mammo in September!

    Have a great day!

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  • ptdreamers
    ptdreamers Member Posts: 1,080
    edited July 2012

    Gumby, I'm with you. I will try to do the five years on Aromasin but ten, no way I'm 66 and certainly don't want it until I'm 76.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Good news girls, after my 6month checkup I'm still hot n heavy with the stable boy!  Thank you Femara!! Still going strong after almost two years.  Just goes to show that that little pill sure packs a big punch.

    Glad to hear that it's working for others as well.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy 

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  • FilterLady
    FilterLady Member Posts: 407
    edited July 2012

    Chrissy........I'm doing the happy dance for you!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Congrats....I'm also doin the dance💃

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  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,267
    edited July 2012

    chrissyb, That's wonderful news.  It gives us more incentive to stay on it. 

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  • LovesChristmas-Barb
    LovesChristmas-Barb Member Posts: 706
    edited July 2012

    That's wonderful news chrissyb!

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited July 2012

    Chrissy, that is good to hear.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Thanks girls!  I was just thinking that if it's doing that for me, a stage IV just think what it can and is doing for you.............it sure is mind boggling!......lol

    Love n hugs all.  Chrissy 

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  • Isabelle2
    Isabelle2 Member Posts: 389
    edited July 2012

    chrissyb...you are an inspiration...today is day 15 for me on Femara & I am still so afraid of it.  I go for my radiation consult today.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Isabelle please don't be afraid of it nor the possible side effects........not everyone gets them and some people get very mild ones that are easily delt with.  If I were able to have this medication when I was first dx'd then there is every possibility I would not be stage IV now. At that point of time the AI's, which Femara is one, were not available but I sure am happy we have the opportunity to have it now...........aren't we the lucky ones!

    Good luck with your rads consult! 

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy 

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  • gardengumby
    gardengumby Member Posts: 7,305
    edited July 2012

    Isabelle, don't worry about the letrozole.  It has some SE's, but the good thing is that one of the things it affects for me is my memory - so I don't really remember how I felt before I started taking it!!  LOL Laughing Laughing.  All kidding aside, you may not be one of the people who has side effects.  I will tell you that my oncologist is really high on the stuff.  She says it's pretty much the best stuff available - so pop that little pill and tell it to run right down there and knock out any stray cancer cells that may be wandering around your bod....  Smile

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  • Isabelle2
    Isabelle2 Member Posts: 389
    edited July 2012
    gardengumby...i am on day 20 with Femara and charting everything..if I could just forget that I am popping those little pills, maybe I would not even notice. Smile
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  • RobinNY
    RobinNY Member Posts: 766
    edited July 2012

    Well, it's time to say goodbye to this forum....after 28 months Femara is no longer effective for me. On to Faslodex! Good luck to everyone...

    hugs!

    Robin

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Good luck with Faslodex Robyn sure hope it does its job for a long time.



    Love n hugs. Chrissy

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Good luck with Faslodex Robyn.

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Anyone experiencing lots of nausea with Femara??????



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  • Isabelle2
    Isabelle2 Member Posts: 389
    edited July 2012

    Good morning Scottie,

    So far (day21) with Femara, so it may be a little early, just very teary throughout the day for no reason & other than that no s.e.   Little light headed for the first few days but that has passed.

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Hi Isabelle2: I couldn't get out of bed yesterday for the nausea...today I have a slight fever, headache and some nausea again....could this be due to Letrozole...could it be the debilitating heat we are experiencing in Toronto??????

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Scottie the nausea could be either or both.  Have you tried taking the Letrozole after food?  Also, with the heat you are experiencing you may not be drinking enough water which will give you all the symptoms you describe.  When it is that hot you should be drinking at least 2 litres of clear water a day and that doesn't include any other beverage.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy 

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Thanks Chrissy's: I have not bee drinking a lot of water...tea, yes...not a big water drinker

    But will try.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Scottie, a good trick to make the water go down easier is to put two or three drops of fresh lemon juice into it to give it a taste.

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  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited July 2012

    Thank you chrissyb.....I know all the tricks, believe it or not I used to be a registered

    Dietitian, giving all this advice to my patients....for myself.....not so much. I just made a pot of green tea and I'm looking forward to that. My L Etrozole I take in the evening after dinner, but right now, it's not helping. I may have to contact my MO.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited July 2012

    Scottie, you may have picked up a virus.  The main thing is to not let yourself get dehydrated particularly as it is so hot.  Sure hope you get it sorted asap.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy 

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