User Reviews for Femara oral

I am writing to advise the people who are using generic femara (Letrozole) that it can be purchased at Costco warehouses for $16.39 instead of a whopping $350 - $700. You do not need a membership to use the pharmacy and even if you did, it would be well worth it.

I have been on Femara for almost two months after I was diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer. I have noticed tissue changes in the lump in my breast which seems to show an improvement. I have had bone aches and pains, nausea, hair loss and I do not know if the drug caused depression or if being told I had stage 4 cancer. I do not like the side effects but am also receiving a shot xgeva for adding calcium which could be part of it. I am still here which is what is important.

Whew! I have completed five years of of estrogen blockers! I am looking forward to getting rid of diarrhea, trigger finger, joint pain, and other side effects. I feel the benefits of this drug outweigh the side effects though. Hang in there! Life is worth the struggle!

I was diagnosed in February 2012 with grade 3 invasive breast cancer. I went thru chemo, complete mastectomy, and 32 rounds of radiation. I started taking Femara July 2012. a recent PET scan showed no signs of cancer. I did have problems with fatigue, muscle and joint pain. My doctor told me that exercise would help the fatigue and pain. It did.

I have been taking Femara for 4 months and it has put me through Hell. I had HER2 receptive breast cancer, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and Herceptin treatments. Now on Femara which is worse than all the surgery and treatments following surgery. I can't sleep at night, have severe pains in the joints of my legs and back, have neck pain and an overall feeling of discomfort. never wake up in the morning feeling refreshed or invigorated. I feel like a 100 year old woman, or let me correct, the 100 year old woman probably feels better than I do. I am also experiencing hair loss. Wasn't six months of being bald enough. I swore I would never wear my wig again but who's to say! When my hair grew back is was thick and curley - I have always had straight hair. I thought it was wonderful until it started to fall out. I called Novartis to tell them about my symptoms and they had no advice regarding Femara. What I don't know is what to do next. Stop taking Femara or continue and be miserable for the next five years. I am 67, active, working and just don't know what's in store for me. Hope you are all doing better than I am. Good luck and God bless to all of you.Read More Read Less

I will complete 5 years January 2015. I have Ankylosing Spondylitis so it is hard to tell what is causing problems. Side effects: bone and muscle pain, tiredness, major hair breakage and loss which started last year, bone loss/osteopenia (get a bone density every year, lift light weights 2-3/week, and take calcium with vitamin D if you can),increased cholesterol- dose increased, and general body aches. I am cancer free so I am willing to put up with side effects. I exercise for 2hrs 3-5/week. Read More Read Less

I just finished 5 years of femara treatment. Diagnosed with stage one, received lumpectomy and brachi radiation. Am currently cancer free. Big hugs to all my sisters out there wrestling with side effect vs quality of life choices. I can tell you it wasn't easy at the beginning because of the side effects, but they did lessen for me over the years. Of course now it all seems worth it. Remain patient, and be comfortable with the decisions you make. Gos bless.

Mine was Stage IIA breast cancer, I had a lumpectomy, followed by chemo, then radiation. Immediately following, was put on this drug. I have experienced intense hot flashes, severe insomnia, forgetfulness/fuzzy brain and bone pain. Feels almost like the bone pain I experienced after a Neulesta shot following each chemo infusion. Feels like the flu, have to remind myself it is from taking this drug. The insomnia is all over the place, trouble falling to sleep, then staying asleep or waking up too early, have tried about everything except sleeping pills which I really don't want to get started on. After about a week of this, I usually get a night or two of rest, guess it's from sheer exhaustion. Hard to work though on 4-5 hrs sleep a night. 3 1/2 more years and hopefully, will not have to ever take this drug again. Just looks like someone could come out with a drug without so many side effects.Read More Read Less

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 node negative breast cancer in 2004 and put on Femara. I took it for 15 months even after the side effects had made life miserable. I still have the side effects, including being dependent on a Rollator to get around. I had a long talk with my internist and decided to go off it. I am a ten year survivor and without medications. My oncologist soft pedaled the side effects and that undermined my trust in her judgement. I warn new BC patients who are put on it that you may have to grill your doctor about the problems. All they can see is the prospect of no recurring BC. This is all well and good but you have to live with your decision -- hopefully that will be a long time -- and you cannot ignore quality of life issues.Read More Read Less

After having BC Er+ DCIS right breast removed, Stage 3a, 6 months chemo, steroids, day after shot, 2 months radiation, tamoxifin for 2 years, now doctor put me on Letrozole 2.5mg. Have taken for 2 days, horrible side effects, rash, hand & leg swelling, bone pain, feel like I am on chemo again with the day after shot :( small headache, rash, aches & pains, dizziness, blurry vision and small heart palpitations. After reading all the comments and horrible side effects I will not continue this medication. I would rather have quality of life than endure this. I am 46 years young. Read More Read Less

I have been taking Femara for over 7 years. I had recurrent stage 2 breast cancer because of mistreatment and diagnosis (first 2004, then same cancer after chemo 2007). Initially diagnosed as non estrogen was really estrogen receptive. Some bone loss, some aches and sleep disruption. I have never felt depressed or anxious, actually have felt this drug has evened out my mood through the elimination of estrogen spikes. My doctor believes I should stay on drug as long as I can tolerate and I agree. Exercise helps deal with any aches. Overall, I have not felt or dealt with any truly negative side effects, and would highly recommend this drug as adjuvent therapy. Also some sleep disruption but don't know if it is the drug or my age!Read More Read Less

Am serious 60 year old athlete. Have foot pain,shoulder pain. Stiff upon rising from chair. Also have hot flashes,but had them before. Negative dreams, depression, may be from just dealing with having stage 4 cancer. Cancer free for now. I can put up with side effects unless hair goes. Am OK right now. Could not handle being an ugly gargoyle again. I think I read Femara gives us a 37 percent better chance of survival. Guess it is worth it for now. My advice-keep moving. I run or hit the gym every day. I refuse to let anything stop me. Keep the attitude girls.. I am pulling for all of us.Read More Read Less

I suffer from a lot of joint pain, dizziness and weight gain

When I first started taking Femara, I had joint pain - bad! But my body slowly adjusted and I had to accept that it was going to be uncomfortable at times. Keep active - even when you don't think you can move. Four years into it, and I'm doing good. Take it! You will never be the same as before you had cancer, but it will be something you can LIVE with.

ALL YOU LADIES OUT THERE WITH THE PAIN AND MEMORY LOSS AND ALL THE OTHER TERRIBLE AFTER EFFECTS FROM FEMARA. TELL YOUR DOCTOR YOU WANT TO SWITCH TO EXAMESTANE (AROMASIN)IMMEDIATELY... IT IS ONE OF THE OTHER TWO ESTROGEN INHIBITORS THAT STOP THE ESTROGEN FROM BEING PRODUCED BUT DOES NOT I REPEAT DOES NOT HAVE ALL THE TERRIBLE AFTER EFFECTS.......I AM A FOUR YEAR SURVIVOR AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PAIN, THE MEMORY LOSS, THE NUMBNESS, YOU NAME IT AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THAT WITH EXAMESTANE......I TOOK FEMARA FOR SIX MONTHS AND MY QUALITY OF LIFE WAS TERRIBLE AND NOW FOR THE PAST 3 1/2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON EXAMESTANE AND HAVE NONE. PLUS IT IS NOW GENERIC SO THE PRICE IS NOT EXORBITANT EITHER. ..IF THIS HELPS EVEN ONE OF YOU I WILL BE HAPPY I TOOK THE TIME TO COMMENT HERE.. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE...Read More Read Less

November 2008 diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. Hormone receptor positive and HERS 2 positive. Opted for lumpectomy instead of mastectomy. Received chemo, radiation and Herceptin therapy. First 2.5 years was taking Tamoxifen then switched to Letrozole (Femara). Last visit to oncologist stated I am cancer free and will be able to stop medication in May 2014. Side effects have been joint and muscle pain with fatigue. Have been working out 1.5 hrs. 3x per week. This has helped with most of side effects. I take the medication at night and believe this has helped also. I am determined to finish the 5 years and look forward to not taking this medication. Has not been easy but do not want a reoccurrence of breast cancer. Going through the breast cancer treatments were worse than the side effects of Tamoxifen and Letrozole.Read More Read Less

It has caused me to have two crown replacements from bone loss.

extreme fatique

Quality of life on Femara is a bit depressing but the alternative is deadly. I met someone who is on Norspan patches for joint and muscle pain so my doctor put me on 20g It stopped the hot flushes by 90% but still have a bit of pain, insomnia depression etc. It is 3 years now and I will continue to take Femara as I want to live. Simple as that.