Anyone on exemestane??

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Hi All

Nightmare! Yesterday at a routine eye test I was diagnosed with a cataract at the tender age of 44!!! Apparently it is likely to have been caused by tamoxifen as I am too young to have one.

ANyway spoke to onc who said I have to go for a blood test to see if I am post menopausal , chemo knocked out my periods and then I have been on tamoxifen nearly 2 years) and if so I have to switch to an aromatase inhibitor called exemestane straight away because of my eye.

APart from a bit of weight gain I have done all right on tamoxifen and have heard some awful tales of these aromatase inhibitors on younger women.

ANyone out there on exemestane that could fill me in?

Lve to all

Alise x

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I’m a bit older than you but i went onto Exemestane after 2 years of Tamoxifen as this is now thought to be the best combination to reduce the risk of recurrence. I had no obvious side effects from Tamoxifen or Exemestane although I’ve had pain in my wrists and hands which may or may not have been made worse by the change. I had had a hysterectomy 2 years before my diagnosis but kept my ovaries so was unsure whether i was pre or post menopausal so had to have the blood test to check.
I’ve heard it said that Exemastane has fewer side effects than Arimidex.
Regards
Kelley

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Thank you Kelley that’s quite reassuring. Anyone else know anything?

x

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Hi Alise

I was 40 when first diagnosed and took tamoxifen for 10 years and although I didn’t have a cataract I noticed a huge change in my eyesight and now wear glasses for reading or computer, t.v. etc.

Then then checked my hormonal levels (I think it was something called oestradiol (sp?) and it confirmed that I was post menopausal through the chemo initially given so was put on Arimidex and then switched to Exemestane.

The thing that I noticed was my joints seemed to stiffen up especially in the mornings when first getting out of bed but within a couple of minutes it was back to normal. I didn’t have any other side effects but like with everything else, we all react differently.

Hope this helps.

Pinkdove

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I took Tamoxifen for 4 years then diagnosed with secondaries and was switched to Exmestane aged 41 (had radiotherapy to ovaries to become menopausal)- the only side effect I had was aching fingers/hands worse in a morning but not too bad and soon went. I have since changed due to it becoming uneffective for me.
guess we all react in different ways but I saw little difference from tamoxifen.
Good luck
Smartie

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Thank you everyone.

Can i just ask - did you get worse hot flushes and mood swings on exemestane than tamoxifen? Also my onc says I have to have a bone strengthener once a month if I have ex because I am only 44 - did anyone else have that?

Love to all

ALise x

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Hi Alise
My hot flushes were actually better on Exemestane than Tamoxifen! - mood swings about the same. I have bone strengthener but take mine (Bondronat) in the form of a daily tablet.
Best wishes
Smartie

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My hot flushes were also better on Exemestane and no mood swings (probably because I was no longer pre-menstrual!).

I’m on Zometa now having just been changed over from Pamidronate. Was on Bonefos for a while but because I have a portacath they decided to give it to me via I.V. as my port needs flushing every 4 weeks.

Pinkdove