Breast Cancer Now Forum

hi Tricia  this is the reply I had from Novartis the makers of Femara. I suggest if your pharmacy can’t or won’t supply you get a prescription and take it somewhere that can get it. You have every right to to do that. show this reply to your pharmacy or contact the number at the bottom if you have problems.  best of luck Gailey   ... View more

Hi KIPSY Sorry if we (and especially me as I used the word ‘ladies’ in my post further down the page than this one) failed to acknowledge the fact there are SBC men as well as SBC ladies out there. It has been some time (maybe 3 or 4years?) since we had a SBC gentleman join in the forum. When it has happened in the past I think we all, at the time, stopped referring all SBC members as ladies and of course welcomed any man who joined in but over time that has been dropped as it’s been only ladies since then. Apologies for the slip up/omission there was no reason not to recognise that men also get BC and SBC, just a laziness on the typing part! I expect you have enough of a problem explaining that you have SBC as most of the population haven’t heard of men getting it as well as women and you are welcome on any of these threads. Nicky  ... View more

Hi Lizzie, when I very first started Ribociclib I got a terrible rash on just one finger (if you scroll down on the Fulvestrant and Ribociclib thread I posted pictures) onc thought it could be a coincidence though so who knows?? However I have noticed I get itchy skin now but it doesn’t go into a rash. J x ... View more

I’ve sent you a private message xx ... View more

Thanks love. Good of you to reply. A smoke for anxiety sounds good about now but I'm not giving in to temptation... all the best to you. Xxx ... View more

Many thanks. Despite my best efforts I simply couldn't cope on letrozole regardless of brand. I couldn't get up the stairs, out of the car! Crazy. Saw consultant who out me on exemestane which is better. I believe it's a steroid which isn't so good long term, but I either take that risk or the other 🤔 Keep well Loraine ... View more

Thanks everyone for your comments. I intend to speak to my GP to ask if I can have a fixed brand and also try maybe Accord or Dr R as they seem to be the most favoured. Mcnulcc to answer your question I have not experienced any stomach issues while taking Letrozole. In fairness I can just about manage the hot flushes and joint pains but the vaginal dryness is just a pain. Intimacy is out of the question right now. I've been using Replens and Sylk with some relief but not enough to return to a normal sex life. I'm a young 62 and really don't want to abandon this side of my relationship. I am therefore going to try other brands in an attempt to reduce the side effects before considering a change to Tamoxifen Thanks again everyone ... View more

Morning Suehum, I know what you mean. Theres alot to take in, im still having treatment letrozole for 4 more years and zoledronic acid infusions every 6 months. I also had a bone scan recently too but thankfully that was all clear. I felt really scared of the trial but my family thought I should go for it. I remember thinking I will ask all the questions I can before I agree and then to my husband's surprise I agreed at the meeting. It just felt right. So ask them all you can then decide. Try to take every step at a time. When do they need go know? ... View more

I have been on Letrozole for 4 1/2 months. Initially I was given the Accord brand and I was coping really well with few side effects. The last prescription was dispensed as Sterling and after just 2 tablets I was hit with extreme side effects! I was dizzy, nauseous, exhausted and so stiff and sore I could barely move! The nausea settled down but after 2 weeks I was shuffling around like a 90 year old (I’m 53) and struggling with basic things like tying shoe laces   I went and spoke to my pharmacist yesterday and he said this wasn’t unusual and was able to give me 14 days supply of Accord tablets as that was all he had in stock while he tries to track down some more. He said he can’t request a specific brand when ordering and that three of the manufacturers (including Accord) had recently been bought by another company and he doesn’t know what the situation will be going forward.   I was so excited to be able to hang my washing on the line today and can’t face the thought of going back to how I felt on the other tablets. I thought that a drug was a drug and never imagined that different brands could vary so much. If I had started on one that wasn’t good for me I wouldn’t have known that things could be so different.  No wonder you hear of so many women giving up on it. ... View more

Prior to my TM surgery I went and tried the M&S sports bra which also come with pockets for post surgery. The lady in the fitting room was a BC survivor and could not have been more helpful. I then did what I always do and bought the same bras as factory seconds from eBay for a fraction of the cost (£6 for a two pack of really good well supporting high impact sports bras with wide adjustable straps). The BC nurse at the hospital commented on the good fit, and gave me a bra extender just to cope with the post surgery swelling. You can also buy them on eBay or M&S. ... View more

So sorry to hear your news. Just wanted to send you lots of love and hugs. Take care xx ... View more