CancerCompass message board discussion started by enlightened on 5/3/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23711,0.htm Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Have been on Femara for about 3 years followng 18 mos on Tamoxifin.  Have  just beome stiff and have some joint pain-bearable but uncomfortable.  What do you know about the dangers  to joints etc. of continuing with this.  am 73 and have osteopenia.very mild.  Dr. has suggested i discontinue for a month  to see if pain goes away -- possibly pain is some form of arthritis,osteoporis  and aging.  Concerned about not taking the drug for fear of recurrence.  After 1 month  and  outcome might change me to arimodex or return to femara.  Comments????thanks enlightened Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT You might be able to figure out if the Femara is causing your pain by stopping for a shorter period of time. I've had a lot of unpleasant side effects on AI drugs since pretty nearly day 1 (I've been on them 2 years now) and twice I decided I needed a break from the hot flashes and the pain. Both times I stopped for just a week and I felt somewhat better while off the meds, but also had it a little easier for a while after I resumed taking them. I don't think anyone knows how long we can stop without endangering our health but I doubt that a week could make that much difference and it may be that a month is not too long either. Most breast cancer is very slow growing, particularly the breast cancers that are usually found in women who are middle aged or older. I hope you get some relief. We've all suffered enough! Suzie M Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT  After 3 years of Tamoxifen with very mild side-effects I was put on Aromasin. Four months into it I could not take the increased hot flashes and really painful joints. I am 59 and have always been very active. I continue to walk each day and do some weights, but can no longer do aerobics class. I recently switched to Femara and have noticed that the joint pain has actually decreased - - it's still  there but  after I am up for a short time it seems to lessen. I am also wondering if anyone has experienced some "spotting" while on the aromatase inhibitors. I have had this happen 3 times in the last 6 months - - usually after some pretty intense activity like dancing for 4 hours or power walking several miles. The first time it happened I had to have a uterine biopsy - -don't want that again, but also wonder what's going on. Anyone experience this?? thanks On 5/11/2008 Suzie M wrote:You might be able to figure out if the Femara is causing your pain by stopping for a shorter period of time. I've had a lot of unpleasant side effects on AI drugs since pretty nearly day 1 (I've been on them 2 years now) and twice I decided I needed a break from the hot flashes and the pain. Both times I stopped for just a week and I felt somewhat better while off the meds, but also had it a little easier for a while after I resumed taking them. I don't think anyone knows how long we can stop without endangering our health but I doubt that a week could make that much difference and it may be that a month is not too long either. Most breast cancer is very slow growing, particularly the breast cancers that are usually found in women who are middle aged or older.I hope you get some relief. We've all suffered enough!  mary48 Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have heard of "spotting" while on these drugs. I think vaginal bleeding is a rare side effect of the AI drugs and tamoxifen, but you should keep your oncologist informed about it. If you have had a uterine biopsy already I would think they wouldn't make you do it again. I had an endometrial biopsy--is that the same thing basically?--and it was really painful, although mercifully brief. I wouldn't want to do it again, either. I was really interested to hear about your experience with Aromasin versus Femara. I have been on all three and I am currently on Aromasin and I think the pain is a good bit worse. I think I will talk to my doc about switching back to Femara. I'm glad you mentioned the difference. Suzie M Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT     Hang in there.  I was on Tamoxifin for 2 &1/2 years.  Ny oncologist then switched me to Aromasin because itwas supposed to offer great results after taking Tamoxifin.  Ihad  pretty terrible bone and joint pain  from theAromasin.  Then about six months into the Aromasin I  startedwith a headache  that was I was able to cope with some of the timeeven though it never went away.  By the 9th month the headacheswere really pretty bad.  After a full year on Aromasin, myoncologist finally told me off it.  It took 8 weeks for theheadache to go away.  During that 8 weeks, I didn't take anyAI.  Now my doctor has started me on Femara.  I've only beenon it one week with pain only in my feet and knees.  What animprovement!  My oncologist said not taking anything for the 8weeks wouldn't hurt me.  I do trust him and am glad to beheadache  and bone pain free!  My doctor says all AIs workthe same way but don't always affect each woman the same way. Work with your doctor until you find the one that causes the least sideeffects.  Good Luck!! Suzie-Q Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 6/9/2008 Suzie-Q wrote:    Hang in there.  I was on Tamoxifin for 2 &1/2 years.  Ny oncologist then switched me to Aromasin because itwas supposed to offer great results after taking Tamoxifin.  Ihad  pretty terrible bone and joint pain  from theAromasin.  Then about six months into the Aromasin I  startedwith a headache  that was I was able to cope with some of the timeeven though it never went away.  By the 9th month the headacheswere really pretty bad.  After a full year on Aromasin, myoncologist finally told me off it.  It took 8 weeks for theheadache to go away.  During that 8 weeks, I didn't take anyAI.  Now my doctor has started me on Femara.  I've only beenon it one week with pain only in my feet and knees.  What animprovement!  My oncologist said not taking anything for the 8weeks wouldn't hurt me.  I do trust him and am glad to beheadache  and bone pain free!  My doctor says all AIs workthe same way but don't always affect each woman the same way. Work with your doctor until you find the one that causes the least sideeffects.  Good Luck!!thanks for your response.  all pain and stiffness have gone away and am back on femara..hope to continue until I reach 5 years with the femara-12/09. not sure what the problem was but it has subsided-think it might have been an attack of sciatica.  good luck  enlightened Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT