User Reviews for Femara oral

With Stage 1 and zero (small lump, caught early) breast cancer, thought I was golden...until they found cancer growing into blood vessels of my lump. PAMF oncologists tried bullying me into chemo..until the "Onco-type DX" (cancer genetic test) showed only a 1% increase in protection. So now 6 weeks or radiation, and the "no-brainer" 5 years of a little pill. This was supposed to be the easy part. Arimidex first. No libido, spitting constant cotton balls...swelling of inside of mouth and tongue (kept biting tongue and cheeks.) Constantly ill with bladder infections that morphed into chronic urethritis. Also bright red, very hot hives on face, neck and hands. So Dr. moved me to Femara. I purposely did not read side effects so I wouldn't be influenced. Also since it took 2 months to rid my body of its hyper-sensitivity to nearly everything at that point...I was skeptical. 6 weeks ago started 1/2 Femara pill three times a week. After reading these posts, I now know why my 20-year old carpal tunnel surgery is now failing me. Extreme hand pain and fingers popping in and out of place with yelps from me at every painful pop. Feet look like balloons, hives are back, but expanded to whole body. But the most frightening effect, not heretofore mentioned, is my sudden feeling or RAGE. I drive home from work gripping steering wheel and roaring with it. Its all I can do to control it when I'm not alone. God allowed my cancer for a reason...I was able to find a remedy for radiation burns. If he allows it again, there will be another reason. But if it took my body 2 months to recover from 2 months of these drugs, how long will it take to recover from 5 years of it. The "gift" of urethritis will no doubt still be with me...I'm not giving it any more chances to ruin the health I have left. I had already decided to stop taking this awful pill, and intend to tell my oncologist that tomorrow. I came to this site looking for validation...and found it. Thank you all. Read More Read Less

I have been dicussing discontinuing FEMARA FOR MONTHS NOW...MY DR.INSIST I CONTINUE WAS SWITCHED ONE TO ARIMIDEX,,,WORST, S0 SWITCHED BACK..SIDE EFFECTS...BONE/JOINT PAIN. INSOMNIA, STOMACH PAIN AND REFLUX...RECENTLY HAD UPPER EIG...SHOWED EROSION IN UPPER ESOPHAGUS.(BARRETTS)DON T KNOW IF RELATED...MY BREAST CANCER WILL BE NOTHING IF I CONTINUED TO SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS FROM THE BARRETS...WONDER IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS SIDE EFFECT FROM THIS MED....DR. GETS BARRETS REPORT TOMORROW; WONDER IF HE WILL LET ME DISCONTINUE IT NOW....HAVE BEEN ON FEMARA FOR 2 YEARS.Read More Read Less

Sept 2012 a little nodule in my lower lung was found that was growing 12 years after having a double mastectomy and stage 4 BC in 2000. This is my 3rd recurrance of BC. The cancer came back in my HEEL BONE 2002. Surgery, radiation and tamoxifen worked well with very little side effects. They do not seem to want to give Tamoxifen now, it gave me cataracts and I had them fixed. I have had 10 years of health, now at 68 this new stage 1 BC in my lung. I have estrogen pos CA. I used estrace, it contains estrogen. Is there a connection? I have taken Femera for 8 months, it, like all its classmates is terrible for the side effects. Joint pain in my knees so bad I had to take a wheel chair to get on the airplane this Christmas. I had horrible fatigue, night sweats and most of the other side effects. It is not worth taking Femara,we do not even know if it will cause the BC to go into remission and stay that way. No quality of life with Femara . Another year wasted to a cancer drug. I will take radiation instead or take my chances. Good luck with decision making! For my part Femara is not worth the pain and suffering it causes you and your loved ones.Read More Read Less

I am very unhappy with the side effects that I am experiencing with Femara: 1) extreme fatigue 2) joint pain 3) brain fog 4) interferes with sleep 5) mouth sores 6) weight gain. Are all these symptoms from Femara? I do not know.

Severe joint pain, bone pain, blurred vision, developed endometrial polyps that resulted in the need for surgery, nad hair loss. I regret taking this drug as it did nothing but cripple me and put me in the ER.

I ended up in the ER and needed surgery because of Femara. I am pissed. Femara caused many symptoms, including: dizziness, rapid pulse, vaginal bleeding, hair loss, blurred vision, bone and joint pain, and uterine polyps (which I needed surgically removed because they were symptomatic). I regret taking Femara. I filed an adverse advent report with the FDA and I'm pissed at my doctor for giving me this drug with no warning and then when I did experience side effects he said there was "no way" it was the Femara. Surprise. Surprise. The side effects I listed are all over the web. What a jerk. Femara was a nightmare. It cost me a lot in time, pain, and money for surgery.Read More Read Less

Took 2.5 mg daily for endometriosis. Developed bone/joint pain, dizziness, and uterine polyps which require an operative hysterocopy to treat. Bad drug! I was on it less than a month and it caused enough damage. My dr. never warned me.

side effects, blurred vision, insomnia, left arm pain, thinning hair.I am due for my 6 months check up, so I don't know how the medicine is working for me yet.some chest pain not too bad.

I have been on first Femara ( 1 year) then on the generic Letrozole ( almost 1 year). I gained about 5 lbs but almost no side effects apart from mild hot flashes. When I switched to Letrozole- pink tablets from Mylan labs - no additional side effects. Then I was given Letrozole from accord labs- a yellow pill and within 3 weeks started to get very bad knee pain. I switched back to the pink pill, knee pain went away. I few weeks ago my prescription was filled with the yellow pills again ( didn't realize til I opened it)- and again after 3 weeks knee pain is back. If anyone else has had a similar reaction, I'd love to hear about it. Seems odd, but I'm very convinced.Read More Read Less

no way of knowing if its working but my fatigue is of the charts nausea on off everyday shoulder general joint pain worsening use to be better after am not now wondering if gastro issues return of gastritis bowel changes also a result of med. it was offered as the best!!!!!

Dx Stage 4 breast ca post femur rodding.Femara and monthly xgeva injections.Aching and fatigue tolerable-great medical management for pain, depression.So blessed to have these medicines...have already prolonged my life 2 years TBTG

I had stage 1 breast cancer, lumpectomy and six weeks of radiation in 2011. I started taking Femara after radiation. After six months, the joint pain was hell, shooting pains in my feet at night (both tops and bottoms of feet) Inability to sleep because of the shooting pains in feet. Depression, dry mouth. After sitting at work, pain in feet when getting up to walk. Oncologist suggested trying Arimidex. After one month, it was worse than Femara. Dizziness, headache and still severe joint pain and inability to sleep. I think I am going to discontinue all of these types of drugs and take my chances. My quality of life is terrible with this drug. Even excercising does not help enough. Cancer is hell but so is this drug. I don't think I can do it for five years. And I do not want to take more drugs to counteract the side effects of another. I am 68 and never had any health problems until I was diagnosed with cancer.Read More Read Less

very little side effects,no nausea or pain in stomach,feel good every day.eating well,very little hot flash

SEVERE HAND AND WRIST PAIN, PEELING FACE

Just turned 69, on letrozole for 4 1/2 yrs, 6 mo to go. Lots of bone, joint pain, weight gain hard to lose, became prediabetic, hypothyroid, tired all the time, walk like I am 100 yo, I have had some falls, have osteopenia keeping it stable at -2 with TriboronPlus, use vagifem but no sex drive, no relations the past two years, blurry eyes, cataracts from Tamoxifen I took for 5 yrs previously, can't wait to stop the med but will I still feel the same? Swimming and walking helps me keep going. Hoping I don't have to take anything else after this but I'll worry if I get the ca again. I'll just have to try thinking positively. My husband is in great shape and acts like a man of 40 and I act like a person of 100. I should go on the "cancer" diet which works, I just need self discipline...no sugar, no caffeine, no white products, no red meat, no dairy but eat organicly and do some juicing with fresh organics. I did that 10 years ago when I got diagnosed after lumpectomy and radiation and lost 50 lbs just trying to eat healthy, not trying to lose weight, but that was before Letrozole. Wishing everyone great health and to be cancer free!!!Read More Read Less

The only side effects has been the joints in my legs hurt.

On Arimidex first..couldn't take it..now on Femara..first 2 months OK then all hell broke lose..I am so sore I cant hardly move..I get pains in my hands and feet..gained weight..tired all the time..sleep is fine and I can live with hot flashes just not the pain...I can't enjoy mysef also short of breath

I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in April 2009, had lumpectomy with radiation treatment. followed by Femara. In 2010 a lot of joint pain in hips and legs. hot falshes very often in the day and at night. vaginal dryness. and weight gain. I now found out I have osteoprisis. I want to stop taking Femara because I have had no of this before taking this drug. What are the risks of not taking Femara for the remainder of the next 2 years?

I was diagnosised with breast cancer in the spring of 2009 at the age of 54. I first had the small tumor removed and within two months decided to have a lateral mascectomy. I chose not to have radiation Six months after my second surgery I started the chemo and have been on Femara since. I found that if I take it before bed, my symptoms are less noticable. If I take it earlier, I am so sore and achy that I can hardly move. I also take a powdered vitamin which seems to help. I try to work out on a treadmill or exercise bike daily. I have spent time hiking and mountain climbing. The more active I am the better I feel. I will not let the side effects of this medication rule my life, I will find whatever it takes to beat it. Read More Read Less