Hi there being a bit thick about this as its all new to me. I have had lobular cancer grade 2 and a mastectomy and node clearance, I have had chemo and radiotherapy and the onc is starting me on Femara, all blood tests say I am post menopausal although I have had no symptoms other than no periods. They stopped almost immediately I was diagnosed. My question is this is femara the best one to take rather than tamoxifen or is it usually given after tamoxifen? and are there side effects I should prepare for would you say? thank you for helping with this, lots of love to you all T xx
Hi,
I am taking femara and started it this year after taking tamoxifen first as onc was not convinced I was post menopause. I was really nagging him to change as femara and the other aromatase inhibitors are giving higher success rates in trials.On tam I had terribly stiff joints that would not bend in the mornings and felt like I was really old and stiff. This has gone on femara and I feel much better because of it. I have also been able to start losing weight whereas it kept going up before. Others will have very different views as they affect people differently. As far as tablets go I was told femara is the expensive one and it is better than tam is trials although new info comes along all the time. Good luck and hope it suits you
Lily x
Hi
I have been on Femara for 6 months now. the side effects I get are painful joints and stiffness in my hands. This usually happens first thing in the morning or when I am in bed at night. It is annoying at times but I have learned to cope with it, and if it gets really bad I take 2 paracetamal.
I had an early menopause when I was 38 I am now 52 so there was no choice for me,it had to be Femara. My oncologist says that if the joint pains get worse I could try something else, but I am going to keep on Femara.
Hope this helps you, if I can help in any other way please contact me.
Love Anne xx
Hi weeannie,
Ive just posted on another thread, Im 58 and Femara didn`t suit me at all so I was given Tamoxifen and I feel really well, evidently even old-timers can have Tamoxifen. If your aches & pains get worse it may be worth considering Tamoxifen, my only painful bits are my shoulder & armpit, normal after MX & ANC.
Take care, love Mags xx
I’m post-menopause and was originally prescribed Femara. Because my surgery was delayed due to other health problems, Femara certainly worked wonders and shrunk the tumour so the surgery originally planned was less radical.
I had a number of gynecological problems caused by Femara and switched to Tamoxifen. (If you want the gory details, send me a PM) I’m being seen by a ‘Chief Banana’ at the Royal Marsden and he is the one who said I could change.
AlexG
Hi I had no symptoms of being post men. some don’t Mine started at 45 after mum died! BC diog. lobular gd 2 at 47. I was put on Tamoxifen in spite of post meno and other gyno probs. after a number of blood tests over some months docs agreed I was post men and switched me to Arimidex, an AI like Femera. I assume they have check your homone levels re being post men.
Take care Alice
Hi thank you for all your comments thats really helpful, seems like the femora is a good bet and I can only assume the blood tests saying I am menopausal are right. I will watch out for any side effects but assume I won’t get any until I do!!! lots of love to you all T xxx