side effects

Judii -

It seems like there is a long list of possible side effects:

hot flashes, joint pain, night sweats, weight gain, nausea, tiredness, other heart-related events and bone fractures

Is there some reason you are taking anything beyond the 5 years of Tamoxifen? I'm curious because my doctor initially said that there wasn't much benefit to take anything past 5 years but the other day he indciated that I would finish out 5 years and then see. I figured I would cross that bridge when I got to it. 

TAM

Hi TAM,

My Oncologist just suggested that I take Femara after the Tomoxifin so I went along with it. She did tell me that some women have such bad aches and pains that they discontinue it.My worst aches are in my arms at night. Sometimes I can't even turn over in bed.  They both are aching when I get up in the morning, but seem to get better as the morning goes on. Another really bad side effect is vaginal dryness and the fact that I am not interested in sex at all anymore.I put up with it to satisfy my husband of 40 years.

 Judi

On 6/13/2009 Judii wrote:

I was on Tomoxifin for 5 years with no side effects. I have been on Femara for 1 1/2 years with joint pains in my ankles and arms.  My Onc. wants to keep me on Femara for 4 years.  Other side effects are vaginal dryness and night sweats.  

Hi Judii,

I'm a cancer survivor and my father had cancer as well. I started a blog (http://www.CincoVidas.com ) because I found very little information on the side effects of radiation and chemo therapy.

Here's a post that I wrote on joint pain http://blog.cincovidas.com/side-effect-joint-pain%e2%80%94tr And here is a list of side effects and the drugs that cause them http://blog.cincovidas.com/side-effects. You may also want to check this site www.cooljamaz.com for pjs and bedding for women with night sweats. I hope this helps.

 Love, strength and survival,

-Britta