I have been taking femera for three years after the completion of five years of tamoxifen. Initial research stopped after three years so I would like to know anyone who is taking femera for over three years. I am quite frightened of stopping as I still have a teenage child. I just feel safe taking some sort of drug to stop recurrence but cannot find any information whether it is safe for me to take it for the full five years.
I too have been worried about being on femera for a prolonged period.
Following an initial diagnosis in 1990, I was diagnosed with secondary cancer in 2002. I have been taking femera for 5 years now and it has proved to be a very effective cancer preventing drug for me. Recent reviews on the net now seem to state that the longterm side effects of the drug are not known but it has been noted that it can increase cholesterol. A cholesterol check a month ago showed that my cholesterol level had increased from 3.3 to 4.7 but because it was below still below the normal level my GP did not seem concerned.
At my last oncology appointment, I tried to find out how long how I should be on femera, when did it cease to be effective and what were the longterm effects. All I could get was evasive answers, primarily I think because the oncologist didn’t know due to lack of recent research. I will quiz her further at my next appointment in June.
I can appreciate that it is a worry for you about stopping and only wish I could be more helpful. Hopefully new drugs will be produced in future which will supercede the arimotase inhibitors.
Wendy x
I was put on Femara after my 5 years of Tamoxifen ended in June this year. When I asked about how long I would take them for my onc said for as long as they remain useful, which I translated as until the cancer returned in one shape or another. My cholesterol has also gone up since I started Femara and I have been given Simvastatin to help lower it and my blood pressure has gone up and I now take Ramopril to control it. I did start to think well the cancer seems to be controlled but became concerned a heart attack or stroke might finish me off as the price of this treatment.
Best wishes Linda
Thank you all for your comments which have given me thought. My oncologist has showed no concern at all and although my Dr is lovely she too was unable to help. I shall ask her to test my cholesterol now. She has told me I have high blood pressure and my bone density result has come back with a concern. However I find taking Femera a safety net so I shall try and find out some more about the length of time. - Thank you again.
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
I think oncologists have been advised to test the bone density of patients who have been on arimarose inhibitors for at least 3 years as bone thinning is a common side effect at this stage.
I was tested for osteoporosis 18 mons ago and my results came back as a T score of -1.5 indicating osteopaenia which means that I could develop osteoporosis in the future if I remain on femera. The oncologist asked me if I wanted to go on Fosamax but I declined this as I didn’t want anymore side effects from another drug. She was happy to let me manage the bone thinning with calcium and Vit D tablets for now. I expect to have further scan at some stage to see how things have progressed. I was 55 yrs old when tested so am not sure if this would have been my score at this age anyway.
Please let us know if you manage to find out anything about the length of time appropriate for taking femera.
Wendy x