Hi,Was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2007. Had mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Was then put on Tamoxifen for 2 years which was ok apart from the hot flushes which were bearable. Have recently seen my oncologist (in May) who changed my tablets to Exemestane. Since then the hot flushes have increased it seems like tenfold and sleeping at night is a real problem. Have given it 3 months nearly but no improvement. Feel like stopping the tablets, or else asking to go back on to Tamoxifen. Does anyone else feel the same or can you offer any remedy to cope with hot sweats. Constantly feel like a limp rag!!!
Probably being a wimp, but any suggestions would be welcomed.
I´m on letrozole but feel exactly the same as you , drenching hot flushes all day and sweating all night so that I´m awake and up , three or four times .
I have tried all the usual , Primrose oil , dong quai , red clover , vit B .
I have a "ladycare " Magnet , which has helped a little .
Had acupunture , which again helped a little , but I cannot afford to continue with it .
One of the BCN´s advised that "gabapentin " may be the answer ,and I´m waiting for an appointment to see the doctor to see if he will prescribe it .
I´m desparate to try anything , because otherwise i will definately be stopping the letrozole to try to get my life back together .
Hope you find something that works for you .
Kris
i was diagnosed July 07 too, was on tamoxifen after treatment etc had the usual S E s but they were bearable, been on exemastane since March, ist month or so was ok but now the hot flushes are unreal i get drenched, loads of aches and pains and hubby says i have terrible mood swings ! i have thought many times of going back to tamoxifen but all the reports give such a good response to switching to exemastane i feel that i should persevere and hope the next couple of years on it fly past. If you find something that helps please let us know.
I have been on arimidex and tamoxifen with terrible side effects. My consultant says I should try exemestane. I fear the side effects will be the same but has anyone tried arimidex and tamoxifen and found exemestane better to tolerate? Hot sweats on both the above, joint pains and severe depression despite anti depressants (all of the known ones tried). I really do not want to go through all of this again but the onc pursuaded me due to the nature of my bc (ER ++, Grade 3, Stage 2b). I have finished treatment two years ago. I find I cannot work on any of these drugs but no one seems to believe me. They think I am moaning for no reason. I know bc is serious and aware that it can kill me but cannot live with the unbearable side effects of the hormone drugs.
Rachy
I was on Arimidex and found the joint pains quite difficult. I changed to Exemestane about a year ago and I find it a bit better.
All the best
Anne
Hi girls,I dont have any remedies but can certainly empathise. I was on Tamoxifen and then Arimidex, they did give me hot flushes, but life was bearable. Have now been on Aromasin (Exemestane) since April and the S/E’s are awful. My sweats increased enourmously and I get drenched and also experience tingling sensation all over my body. But the worst thing is how painful it has made my joints. The pain in my fingers wakes me up in the night, and in a morning I have to do exercises to get my fingers to work as I cant even bend them, and picking the kettle up to make a cuppa is right old struggle. I dont think I have mood swings, but it doesnt take much to make me cry these days.
I’ve gone back to my job as a nurse, but am struggling as unable to do jobs as my finger joints are too painful.
Have persevered with the pills in the hope that they are doing their job, and am seeing Once in 3 weeks for results of body scan, so will discuss S/E’s with him then.
xxx
I switched from Tamox to arimidex and then femara a year ago, but couldnt handle either one…the pain and constant nausea were unbearable and now back onto Tamox. But I never tried the 3rd inhibitor, onc said no point as other two were bad. But now I’m so depressed on tamox, the anxiety, which comes with relentless flushes is dragging me down to the point I’m so down, fatigued and struggle more every day goes by (3 years after diagn). I am now at the point of asking for alternative antidepressant - Venlafaxin (SNRI), as I came off citralopram last autumn when studies showed SSRIs interfere with tamox. But is this safe? Looked at the side affects for this and it lists everything I got already, so does it work?
I dont know what to do. The pains were so bad with Arimidex and Femara, but the depression is so bad with Tamox… Has anyone tried them all, and what is the lesser of all these evils?
Hi Greenieforever
Please don’t feel ashamed about saying that you are having bad side effects. We are entitled to a moan after what we have been through! I don’t know if I am just lucky or if it is because I am through my menopause, but, I have had no significant side effects from either Tamoxifen or Exemestane. I do feel that my healthy exercise and diet routine help, along with regular relaxation/meditation and visualisation. I also saw a homeopathic doctor who put me on some homeopathic pills and some herbal treatment and I am sure that has helped with general well being and energy. I know a lot is said, for and against, about homeopathy…all I can say is that it worked for me when my doctor had given up! Hope this helps.
Bye for now
Jxx (Winchester Babe)