User Reviews for Femara oral

I guees it is working as I have had no recurrence 4 years after diagnosis. I had 6 rounds of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation, continued on Herceptin for a year, then started Femara. I feel pretty fortunate after reading the other reviews. I did have severe joint pain, but couldn't take prescription pain medicine because it made me even sleepier than I already was. After 18 months my oncologist recommended Osteobiflex and I swear by that stuff. I also take Effexor, woman's one a day, B12, Vitamin E, Vitamin D-3, and 4 Aleve a day. Hopefully, I'll still have a liver when then is over. Also stool softeners because Femara has plugged me up. I run 10 to 20 miles a week and it seems like the more I move, the better the joint pain. My brain definitely is not functioning like it did before. I'm glad I read the other reviews and saw 'brain fuzziness' several times. That gives me hope that I'll go back to normal when I get off this stuff. I have a lot of fatigue and also have the vaginal dryness. My husband is amazing and my boss doesn't fire me for taking naps at work and my Savior, Jesus Christ, lifts me up each day. I am on my 37th month of taking this drug and won't take it one extra day past 5 years. Every time I empty a bottle, it's a celebration. Good luck to all you fellow sufferers and 'run the race with patience', as it says in Hebrews 12: 1-3.Read More Read Less

disrupted quality of life. muscle pain to the point of being hard to walk, decreased sleep, bone pain-severe, dry eyes, recurrent uti, severe energy loss, hand stiffness, intermittent itching, weight gain, nausea. Breast CA stage one, with bilateral mastectomy and radiation therapy due to ca all the way to surgical margin.

6 months into a 5year sentence. Joint and muscle pain. Sleeplessness, I take over the counter sleep meds and alieve. Glucosamine and CQ10 help the joints. Sam-ee helps the depression and joints as well. I am trying to figure out a fix for the edema. My rings and shoes don't fit. I bought more shoes, but I miss my rings, and it can't be good for me to be doing this to my body. get my generic femara from Costco and pay $18. For a 3month supply. You can order online and have it delivered if you don't have a store nearby. I hope everything goes back to normal when I am done with this drug.Read More Read Less

I really didn't have much side effects. The first 1-2 days a very slight headache and very little muscle ache. After that smooth sailing.

Diagnosed with BC 12/28/12; Unilateral left breast mastectomy;4 rds chemo; 25 rds. radiation; Tried Arimedex for 3 weeks thought I was dying. Had every single side effect and then some. Was switched to Femara; Now its instant joint pain I hips, knuckles, ankles; have developed a huge hunger, I was worried I was getting diabetes from the hunger side effect, can't sleep, can't stop sweating, so tired that I can't go to work. Seeing the doc tomorrow, I had Osteopenia going into this, was just diagnosed with Osteoporosis, so I don't know what he's going to recommend. My mom had osteoporosis, I can't go there. Her bones were literally turning to liquid. I had a score of 19 on the Genomic test, so I have a 12% chance of this coming back. I only had a 1.7% chance of getting cancer and I got it so these statistics are guidelines that drive me crazy. The real problem was the hormone replacement therapy. That's why I got breast cancer. They have been lying to us for years.Read More Read Less

I have been on Femara for 4 months. Felt great for the first two months and then the side effects set in. Major depression (had to be put on an anti depressant), total loss of libido and terrible pain in feet.

I was diagnosed with early Stage 2 Breast Cancer in 2007. Had mastectomy followed by chemotherapy followed by 5 years of Tamoxifen. Now taking Femara for 2 1/2 months and I'm DONE! Dizziness, anxiety, depression, sever knee/ankle/hip pain, swelling in the ankles/feet, diarrhea, dry mouth, headaches...need I continue?! I'm a 54 year old, active woman who feels 106. I'm a marathon runner used to aching joints but this drug made my hip, knees, ankles and feet hurt so much I could barely stand up after a meal let alone run. My doctor told me to hang on for another month when the symptoms should plateau..plateau?? to what state of awful? I told him that if the symptoms got any worse, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. I'm off it for 2 days now and feel almost normal. No MORE DRUGS!!The quality of my life means more to me.Read More Read Less

after 4 years of taking the medicine I have start having depression, anxious and stress feeling have not talk to my Dr. as yet.

I had lobular breast cancer in my left breast and had a mastectomy in early 2010 and have since had a reconstruction. I have been on Femara since April 2010 with limited side effects although I do have some aches and pains. Am keeping a careful watch on my cholesterol levels and have joint and muscle stiffness but regular pilates and walks really help and has made it very manageable, I treat hot flushes with the odd acupuncture session which has been scientifically proven to help. Overall, I exercise regularly, watch what I eat and try and stay positive, I have 1,5 years more to go on Femara and am already worried about coming off it as I do feel it helps prevent recurrance. I have a wonderful Oncologist who is very supportive and kind.Read More Read Less

I have experience tightness and pain on my shoulder and back

I have been on Femara for 1.5 years so am not sure at this point how effective it is. I did not have chemo or radiation. The biggest side effect I have had from this drug is terrible insomnia. I sleep approximately 3-4 hours a night and am extremely exhausted during the day. Fortunately I am not working outside of the home since I would not be able to function in a job with the lack of sleep. I do exercise a couple of hours every day which I think has helped with preventing major joint pain, although I do have some stiffness getting up in the mornings or out of a chair. Also, despite a vegetarian and low fat diet my cholesterol has sky rocketed. Have also had some hair loss. I am afraid of the long term effects of this drug but my oncologist says it is the best thing available at this time. I really do hope the side effects are worth it in the end.Read More Read Less

After 4 years taking this drug, my hips, knees and ankles ache. I would love to be able to stop the pain

I had stage 2 breast cancer, a right breast mastectomy (surgeron in November, 2011), CHT Chemotheraphy, and 35 days of radiation. I've been on the generic form of Femara for 5 months. At first, I "only" had joint pain in my knees. This last month that has increased to joint pain in my knees and hips,fluid build up (I can rarely wear my wedding ring), weight gain (despite really watching what I eat and exercising), and I have insomnia. My doctor chose Femara for me, because he said that, among his patients, it has the fewest side effects. Prior to cancer, I was healthy, and was not on any medication except for a daily vitamin. I am trying to stay active, and to not let this drug rule my life. I think it would be a mistake to stop this drug, despite the side effects.Read More Read Less

I am a 2x breast cancer survivor, diagnosed with the second 2 1/2 years after the 1st cancer all the while taking Femara. I had a lumpectomy and 30 rounds of radiation after the first cancer. I did not have chemo because I had the Oncotype DX breast cancer multigene expression test that determined my chance of ever getting breast cancer again in my lifetime was very low, wrong! I have now been on Femara for 4 years and I don't believe I have suffered any side effects that don't come with being postmenopausal anyway. Talk to any postmenopausal woman to see how they suffer. I will continue the Femara as long as my Oncologist recommends for she is the expert. My best advice is to join a gym and take some group exercise classes, you will feel better and be happier! Read More Read Less

I've been on Femera since July 2009 and this is what I have been experiencing; hot flashes, severe muscle and joint pain, headaches, depression, insomnia, decreased vision, weight gain, acid reflux, nausea, and sex drive is nonexistent along with vaginal dryness. I was diagnosed at 48 and I'm now 52 and feel 82. I have 8 months left and I'm considering stoping this medication. I'd like to know if these side effects are permanent and if not how long will it take to feel like myself again.

Have been taking it for a year now. Having slight joint pain shooting down to big toe occasionally at night, having sleep problems the last few months and more hair loss in the last month or 2. Taking lemon verbena tea and a handful of pumpkin seeds at night lately helped me to relax enough to sleep plus wearing an eye shield too.

Have taken femara several years and feel very blessed to have a medicine to hopefully extend my life.I also have xgeva injections monthly. Rest, pain med,low intensity exercise,prayer have helped me have many more good days than bad.TBTG Bless you all.

I had breast cancer am treated for 8yr. with Femara 2.5. It is the worst drug I ever took. I have joint pain, back pain,hand pain & are swollen, loss of hair, put on weight, very very tired all the time. I am taking my self off of it now. I had enough. This is not living. I'll take my chances. Should of done this a long time ago. Please every one,do reach on this Med. for your self. God Bless you all. MP.

I have been on this drug for a year now, my bones/joints hurt, can't sleep, mood swings, loss of sex drive, loss of energy and my memory is getting worse. Talked to doctor about this and he doesn't seem to care, told me to see family doctor for side effects! Can hardly walk some days. I hope that it's all worth it in the end....hope I can take it another 4 years.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer (Stage 2b) in 1999 at age 42 with 7 of 14 nodes positive. I expressed 4+ heur2neu and had a very aggressive grade of cancer. I had a bilateral mesectomy (prophactic on the right, modified radical on the left) two rounds of Chemo and 26 radiation treatments. After radiation, I was placed on tamoxifen for 4.5 years and then was switched to Femara due to abnormal pap smears and bleeding. I am still on Femara 8 years later. Both my mom and aunt died of Breast CA-all of us diagnosed in our early 40's. This drug was not around for them, among drugs that have been approved since they passed away. I have had osteopenia from this drug, but took calcium supplements, was placed on Fosamax and walked like a fiend and have improved my bone density, so have stopped the Fosamax. My bones and muscles and the everyday walking helps the aching and controls the weight gain. I take the drug at night, which helps a ton. I take Aspirin or Aleve for the joint pain which helps, too. The best part is that I am 14 years from my diagnosis and wouldn't be here without this drug. I watched my mom battle this disease for 19 years without all of the options we have today. Recurrence is NOT better than being on this drug. Eat better, walk at least 30 minutes 5 times per week and know that while there are rough days...at least you're around to have them be rough. I have traveled the tough road and know how hard it can be, but have also watched first hand what happens when you're out of options and the road ends. Hang in there-it does get better-life is so sweet!Read More Read Less