Exemestane Pain

Hi Valleyside ,  I have been on Exemastane for 11 months now and not had any of the side effects that you describe.  Could these be caused by another medication?  Quality of life is very important but I would talk it over with your oncologist first.  

To Valleyside

After being on Letrozole, I was on exemestane until a couple of months ago, when I came to my 5-year finish.  I found it difficult but not as bad as for you. After 4 years, very overweight and with very much worse osteoarthritis, I was referred back to my oncologist, who suggested trying different brands, but this can be more difficult than you think, and as I was prescribed the original brand, Aromasin, I decided to stay with it. I did aqua aerobics 5 times a week, and I found that helped. Before you give up entirely, ask for a break of say 2-3 months, and this will give you a chance to see if they are the cause. I say this because after 2 months free of the anti-hormone medication, I have not noticed a great change in stiffness, although my case is clouded by me having a foot operation that has left me immobile for 2-3 months. But a break would give the chance to make a more informed choice.

You could also look at the predict site. I don't have the details to hand, but it has been mentioned on this chat line before.  Good luck and I wish you well x

Hi all, I have been taking exemestane for almost 2 years having previously been switched from anastrosol which I was on for a year.  They both seem to give me joint pains after a while, could be due to different brands, but difficult to say.  I am really struggling at the moment with wrist and finger pains, plus one knee and now developed pain in my upper arm.  I am supposed to be on these for 10 years, not sure I can carry on much longer as I am finding them so debilitating.  Does anyone recommend taking a break for a while?  Bit worried about stopping them altogether.

Hello I’ve been on Exemestane for a year, another 9 to go ! Like you I have hand and wrist pain for a while and now and more recently very painful osteoarthritis in both knees. AI are known to increase osteoarthritis which is tough. I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis which complicates things and is nothing to do with AIs I have had some sessions with a Hand Occupational Therapist which has been helpful , might your GP be able to do this for you too ? My oncologist told me the first 2 years of AIs are the worst, I’m hanging onto that . Good luck with everything xx

I’ve been on it for about 4 years. The symptoms do last a long time I’m afraid. I don’t have bone pain anymore or extreme fatigue, but I’ve had problems with my feet and hands. At times I couldn’t bend my fingers at all and had to wear a splint. Then I took a break from the meds for a month to let my hands recover, which it did. But then my other hand was affected, and still is. I can’t get close to forming a fist in the mornings but it’s a lot better by evening. I can’t open bottles or do fiddly things but I see that as an acceptable side effect.
The thing I’m now wanting to stop is for is that I’m losing a lot of hair. I’m wondering if I’m being too ungrateful to care about my hair so much but I think I’m too vain to be known as the balding lady. 

I am in my 70s and still have quite thick hair. Whilst having chemo despite cold cap it did thin but I never had to wear my wig. I am not sure how much it contributed but a lady on the chemo ward recommended Watermans Grow Me Shampoo and conditioner. I have used them ever since all through my 5 years of exemestane and I am still getting complements about my hair.

It might be worth a try.

Xxx

Thank you. I’ve just looked up the shampoo and it’s got great reviews. I see it’s enriched with caffeine and I’ve heard a hair expert say caffeine is a good thing for hair growth if you apply it typically. So I will try it, thank you! 
my husband reminded me that if I stop the Exemestane and get cancer again, I’ll lose my hair anyway so I may as well except it and stick with the meds, which is off course very sensible!