Breast cancer - Femara - side effects? Quacks diasagree!

Sorry to hear that you've been having such a clutch of side-effects. Maybe the doctors don't want to admit that it's their particular branch causing it because then they don't have to feel guilty about not being able to address the problem. I was certainly told that "fatigue" just had to be accepted as pay-off for the treatment. However "back-ache" suggests something a bit vaguer and more widespread than your specific bending-down pain. Could you have twisted whilst lesning forwards and actually have injured your back? Hopefully someone with experience of Femara will come along shortly and describe their back-ache so you can compare. Hopefully it will disappear.
In the meantime, I want to wish you very very good luck with your recovery from the treatment, and to say welcome to What Now. There is also a Chat Room, and don't be shy of dropping in as someone in there may be able to answer your questions - or at least make you laugh! Lots of love xxx Penny

Hello Kathleen

I have been on Femara since last November and so far the only side effect that has really bothered me has been the headaches - which are quite severe at times (but they don't seem quite as bad now as they did initially). I do feel tired but I think that is more due to the high levels of Co-Codamol I am taking. I also get bad backache but I believe this is caused by my other cancer (I have two different primary cancers) and I had this even before taking Femara. I do find that the Co-codamol knocks any pain I am suffering from on the head, including the backache but unfortunately it will only increase your feelings of fatigue so you might not want to go down that route. Also, your doctors might not be happy prescribing the levels of painkillers I am taking (both my cancers are terminal so they are quite generous with the pain relief at this stage). If you can bear the tiredeness, I do think it is well worth sticking with the Femara - my original breast tumour was 7 cm but is now measure as 4. x 3.5 so it does seem to have reduced the mass (although I think that the measuring isn't entirely accurate as I was quite bruised after my initial biopsy and I think that this caused a swelling when they took the first measurement - although, again, I could be quite wrong!)

When they list the possible side effects of any drug, they have to list absolutely everything so even quite innocuous drugs can have quite an alarming list of possible side effects.

Anyway, Kathleen, I do hope that everything soon becomes a bit more bearable. My advice would be to stick with the Femara if you can, it really does seem to do the job.

All my best wishes

Mary

Hi,

Thanks for your words of comfort. I saw my G.P. today and was told my back-ache may be related to the use of Femara... or it may be a coincidence. So that's as clear as mud then, isn't it? I was told to take more painkillers and rest, so it is feet up and watch the telly again. Being ill is sooo boring!

I'm new here, but I get what you're saying, the tiredness, other symptoms, side effects etc., this is a precis of my story which is a bit similar, ie tiredness aches & pains, but may just help you with yours. 

I've been taking Letrazole for the last 8 months & the usual side effects are the hot flushes, gosh! They really do come on with a vengeance, apart from this side effect which I know is definitely not the Letrozole, my hair falls out, lots, then stops, 6 months again & falls out. I know that this is not Letrozole side effects as it started when I had Appendicitis, before it was discovered I had Breast Cancer. I was in agony in Hospital with this condition, didnt take them out because (1.) my respiratory condition is so poor, I have copd (2.) My age (3.) Not sure what they would find, i had no warning so i wasnt being treated for this, but what they did find on my 3rd admittance with this condition was Breast Cancer, a 17mm tumour. Stage 1 Grade 3. 

It was decided to take Letrozole & my Masectomy was cancelled due to Respiratory Hypersensitivity & copd exacerbations. I fared on well Letrozole & in 3 months the tumour had shrunk from 17mm to 9mm. Great news !!!. 

So, to the aches & pains. I started getting muscle ache, my shoulders hurt so much right to the bone, when I woke in the morning I could hardly walk to the bathroom my whole body hurt so much. All Letrozole side effects, so I thought. Its wasnt until I got an agonising bout of IBS that also kicked off my Appendix, also an exacerbation of my COPD  - my good Dr. put me on anti bs', steroids & I took the usual meds for IBS. Since taking the anti biotics, for my COPD, they were the stronger ones, also the steroids, 8 a day for 5 days, also for COPD, the pains of the muscles, backache, shoulder pains have thankfully gone ! completely gone ! But I had another period of falling out hair, but hey!

The tiredness, I could fall asleep on a clothes line, seriously, I've tried the CPAP machine, because of the Hypersensitivity was unable to carry on with this, I dont sleep for many hours anyway, but do get tired through the day, so I do give into this. I know if I've been out & about the next day & maybe for a few days after I have to rest, no energy, some days I'm completely exhausted, for no real reason. I wonder if the wrong foods can make me tired ? Since joining Slimming World & losing 3 stone - had to be done, in case I needed an op, overweight not good ! I'm feeling so much better. 

I'm now going to get into a good excersise routine, i need this in my life, i was always doing some excersises which I did enjoy & I know excersises is good ! The tiredness also comes with age, hormones changing etc., I wish I could keep awake to watch a film, I cant. 

Please take some quality time to yourself & zone in on your body's needs, rest, good healthy food, your body has gone through so much, all the treatments for cancer, be kind to yourself. Go have an aromatherapy massage, relaxing swim, anything that clears your mind of any tensions. Maybe see a Chiropractor about your back ? 

Wishing you well.

Kind regards.

Tikky x 

Hi Tikky and welcome to the Online Community, although I am sorry to see you finding us.

A cancer diagnosis can bring a lot of stress, confusion and questions on all the family but talking with people who are on the same journey can help a lot.

This thread is rather old so can I recommend the you join our very supportive Breast cancer group as this will open up your concerns to a wider audience who know exactly what you are going through at the moment.

Just follow the link I have created then hit the ‘Join This Group’ tab just under the main group name, then go to the 'Start a Discussion' tab and set up your very own Discussion and introduce yourself to the group and ask your questions.

You may find our various Macmillan Support Line Services to be helpful - call them on 0808 808 00 00 This free service covers Emotional Support, Practical Information. Clinical Information, Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.

We also have our ‘Ask an Expert’. section where you can post questions to our mostly Volunteer Experts but please allow 2 working days to get a reply.

Our Online Information and Support Section  is a good place to find information covering cancer diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers.

Talking to people face to face can help a lot so check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area or a Maggie’s Centre as these folks are amazing.

When you feel up to it try putting some information in your profile. This really helps others when answering. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. Just click on YOUR username, select 'Edit Profile'. Put as much or as little in your profile and you can amend it at any time - you can see members profiles by hitting our forum names.

All the very best.

Hi, I've been taking Letrozole for 9.months & I've started with awful anxiety attacks, heart beating fast & panicky. I'm wondering if this is the Letrozole or possibly nothing to do with this med, would anyone else here been feeling same ? 

I have a few issues with family right now so I'm wondering if this could be the prob, also finding my memory not so good, again wondering if this is Letrozole.

Anyone else got similar? 

Kind regards,

Tilly

Hi Tilly Tikky,

Could I suggest that you join our very supportive Breast cancer group as this will help you connect with people on the same journey.

Just follow the green link I have created above then hit the ‘Join This Group’ tab just under the main group name, then go to the 'Start a Discussion' tab and set up your very own Discussion and introduce yourself to the group and ask your questions.

All the best.