Exemestane for Breast Cancer User Reviews (Page 4)

• Lin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 23, 2022

"I have been on this 2.5 years. I hate it! I have put on so much weight in my midsection that I don’t even recognize my body anymore. Hot flashes, restless sleep, and nerve pain that travels to different parts of my body. I’ve always had headaches, migraines, so I can’t say that it’s from the medication. I am so tempted to just stop taking it. I mean, 2.5 years seems sufficient. This is awful."

• PMC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 14, 2023

"This drug caused tiredness, lowering of the sound of my voice, thickening of eyebrows with growth at sharp angles (old man eyebrows), increased facial hair, and the inability to concentrate due to the tiredness. By the second year, I had to reduce the use from once a day to every other day. By the third year, I tapered off to every three days and quit the drug completely during that year. I was supposed to have taken it for five years. I don’t know how effective this drug is/was. I have not had a recurrence of breast cancer since starting or stopping this drug. It was difficult to tolerate."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2022

"I have been taking exemestane for three years now, and after a year of struggling with the side effects, I've decided to stop taking it. I feel like I'm 99 years old. I cry all the time. I have had problems with my stomach and bowel. I now need hearing aids. My body aches constantly all over. I have neuropathy in my foot. My foot continuously twitches. I just want quality of life and to feel happy again. It hasn't been an easy decision. I have to do it for myself, not anyone else."

• Les...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2024

"I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 3 breast cancer in 2021. I had a lumpectomy, 6 months chemotherapy, and 2 weeks radiography followed by 10 years of hormone therapy. I was put on exemestane and found overall it was tolerated, but it is causing me distress with the amount of hair I'm losing. I feel ashamed for complaining about this after all, it's a small price to pay. I am, however, going to consult the hospital to see if I can get this medication changed."

• 201...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2023

"It is the best of the three aromatase Inhibitors that I have tried. I have been taking it since 2019. I have been experiencing fatigue, joint pain, hot flashes, and insomnia. However, on the bright side, I have not had a third recurrence of cancer. I was due to finish the Exemestane in 2024, but my oncologist advised me to continue taking it for the next 7-10 years. Well, Snap-Crackle-Pop to me, I guess."

• Gin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 12, 2021

"After breast cancer treatment and surgery, I was put on Anastrozole. The side effects came on within a week: swollen, painful joints, flushes, tired, but can't sleep, and grrrhh - weight gain. I've since changed to exemestane, and guess what? Not a lot of difference in the side effects! The joints are less swollen and less painful, but still hurt. Burning hot flushes, worse at night. If the aching bones don't wake me, the flushes do (window open, duvet off, no clothes, still I sweat). Never used to sweat during exercise, and I'm talking CrossFit, but I do now. The exercise helps, as do a couple of paracetamol to help me sleep until 2 am. I now have the softest pillow, but even my ear cartilage pains will wake me. Stopped my antidepressant as I'd rather know about the feeling blue than masking it with yet more drugs, that and I want some sex drive, which is already flagging! I'm glad I'm cancer-free, but this exhaustion, being fat, flushes, and pains!"

• Kee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 30, 2022

"I have been taking exemestane for nearly a year now. At first, I tried to fight every side effect I was having. Then I wrote a diary, and for me, the side effects ran to a pattern. Little or no sleep for a few days. Then so exhausted, slept for hours and felt as if I had lost a day. Feeling depressed, I even went to my GP for antidepressants and help with sleep, thankfully, he advised against this. Now I call feeling depressed my can't-be-bothered days, so I'm just lazy. Then I feel better. The aches and pains, a gentle exercise, sitting in a chair, and exercises help. I bought a recliner that has really helped with the aches in my legs and back. I found a herbal remedy to take when sleep is really bad, and this helps a little. These tablets used to really have me upset, but now I recognize the signs, go along with them, and try to be calm because I have to take them for 5 years and I won't let them get me down. The weight gain I can't do anything about. I just buy a larger blouse or trousers. I'm 69."

• Con...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 20, 2022

"So many reviews of this drug with horrible side effects. My journey started last May with stage 1A breast cancer, ER positive. Lumpectomy with 2 nodes removed in June. Started radiation in August along with Anastrozole. Started having burning, pins-and-needles feeling in my face, then went to my head. Every few weeks it spread to a different part. Radiation oncologist and medical oncologist said no, it was not radiation or hormone blockers causing this. I suffered from hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea, low libido, depression, bone pain, confusion and memory issues, vaginal dryness, and hair loss. I kept telling doctors it was the medication, but they insisted it was not. In December, the oncologist switched me to exemestane because I complained. The bone pain lifted but I started having frequent urination, bladder issues. Had a severe sore throat for a month. Started having itching from chest up, so the oncologist finally took me off. I have an appointment tomorrow."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2021

"I wish I had read this before trying exemestane. I was diagnosed with 1B cancer, some cells in one lymph node. Had radiation because of that and got pneumonia-like pneumonitis. Given steroids, which I loved. Doing yoga, walking, and Pilates. Then put on Arimidex. Awful joint pain, among other things. Femara. Same. My gynecologist suggested exemestane, which worked for her. For me, who usually experiences no drug side effects, it was a horror show. Gradually waning ability to exercise, as arthritis-like symptoms worsened. Depression. Trouble sleeping. Then, dizziness. It was no life, so this week I decided to risk cancer return in order to feel somewhat normal. My doctors were great-each said it was better odds to take it, but that cancer cells could already be floating around and you never know who is going to have a recurrence. Now my question is: How long does it take to feel better? Does joint pain and dizziness go away or just get better?"

• Ces...
• May 17, 2021

"I was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer in my left breast and Stage 1 in my right. This is my 2 months taking it. It is way better than the first one I was on. That made me really bad leg pain, stiffness, and Charlie horses. When I started exemestane, it made my hand itch like I wanted to scratch the skin off my hands, but that went away. The only side effect I feel now is really, really tired, lifeless, but looking at other comments, I will start exercising. I’ve been doing a lot of natural vitamins like Seamoss every day, and I feel my energy coming back. I also get headaches, and my voice is very hoarse at times, and I feel like sometimes a Charlie horse is coming but doesn’t really. I’ve been drinking a lot of water and Pedialyte to stay hydrated, so far it’s not that bad, I can maneuver around the symptoms."

• SSc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 7, 2023

"I have been taking Exemestane for 4 years now, post Stage II-B Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer. I take 25 mg every night at bedtime and it is super simple to take because it is so small. I believe it is helping as I am still cancer-free, and I am just coming up on my 5-year after-treatment mark. I still occasionally have hot flashes, even after this long. Last year, I told my oncologist that I thought I was developing early-onset Alzheimer's as my memory is so bad, and she told me that it was probably because of my Exemestane. The other side effects I have noticed are that my hair has noticeably thinned and, I just learned I should report this, I have had ongoing pain in both shin bones since I was put on hormone blockers... I thought it was due to my Fibromyalgia. I also have extreme vaginal dryness and use Replens, but it is not helping much. I think that the benefit of not having cancer come back has outweighed the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2021

"Been on Aromasin for 7 months and supposed to take it for 10 years. Not even 1 full year in yet, and I'm falling apart. I'm 38 and was a healthy, active young woman prior to cancer and meds. Now I'm borderline depressed, extremely fatigued and tired, achy joints, mean, moody, and insensitive, lethargic, no energy nor interest, not sleeping despite taking Gabapentin, thinning hair, genital/urinary problems, and unrelenting, unforgiving hot flashes. I'm struggling to work my normal full-time job and will have to go down to part-time. Married with 4 kids and will continue to take in hopes of reducing a recurrence."

• Dia...
• November 27, 2023

Exemestane "So far so good, some hot flashes, but not bad. Sometimes cold but does not last long either one. I was on Anastrozole and it did not work out for me, no sleep, panic attacks. The Aromasin is letting me sleep. I do have some arm pain but my pain pills take care of that. But the bone pain is not every day, some foot pain but I use lidocaine cream 4% on it and it helps a lot. But it's only been about two and a half months."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 12, 2016

"The most significant side effect is the nonstop sweating. Not just a glow! LOL Having read about side effects, I do experience some of the others but not significantly. I was off it for a while and now back on and am experiencing loss of pigment in my genital area and lower stomach. Have not seen anything about this on the internet. Has anyone else experienced this?"

• Eve...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 15, 2023

"It has made me extremely tired and seems to have affected my cognitive abilities. My short-term memory is noticeably worse since taking this drug, and in spite of sleeping well, I am always dragging through my day. I am continuing to do mild exercise, but with difficulty. I am considering going off this drug due to how it is affecting my quality of life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2023

"Still early days; just started last week. Have been changed from Letrozole due to hot flushes. So far, no hot flushes, which started very soon after being on Letrozole. Some difficulty getting off to sleep, but I had this problem before starting this medication also. It is too soon for me to rate the effectiveness of this drug, or to recommend this drug or not."

• Jun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2023

"I take 25 mg every day for the last three years. I have two more years to go. I am 30 lbs heavier now than I was when I started, and my anxiety is worse than it was before I started, but at least I am alive and “cancer free.” I thank God and my oncologists for that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2023

"I’ve been taking it for 9 months and have extreme joint pain. The first few months weren’t too bad, except for the hot flashes. However, now the joint pain is so bad. I contacted my doctor, and she told me to stop taking it for a few weeks to see if the joint pain gets better."

• RSM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 28, 2023

"1st few months, only minor, occasional joint pain along with mild intermittent hot flashes. After that, had increasing joint pain issues and significant pain in wrist. Still can't bend my left thumb joint. Oncologist switched me to Tamoxifen about a month ago. No change in pain levels, though. Took 25 mg daily."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 25, 2023

"Lots of weight gain, like 30 pounds from before taking it. My weight had been stable for 15 years before taking exemestane, and it keeps going up, with no dietary change. Usual joint pain, especially in my knees after sitting and then getting up. Bad coughing spells occasionally, like once a month, but then it won't stop for an hour or two. Often when I'm in bed, the larynx irritation starts and I have to get up to cough for 1 or 2 hours."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 16, 2023

"I have been on this for over eight years. I hate it! It’s really starting to take a toll on my physical and mental state. My skin is a mess (skin tags, yuk), weight gain, insomnia, facial hair, and thinning hair. I need to come off of it. My doctor recommends I take it for 10 years."

• SCG...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 31, 2024

"Lots of side effects but tolerated better than Letrozole or Anastrozole. After 3 years, the side effects got worse for me and include mouth sores, terrible facial cystic acne, small bumps all over my neck, metallic taste that won’t go away, insomnia, numbness in fingers and hands, swollen hands, feet, legs, severe joint pain in shoulders, knees, lower back pain, horrific hot flashes/flushes/sweating, no libido, some severe headaches, extreme fatigue, bad nausea all during the first year. Overall quality of life is affected, and the oncologist has done zero bloodwork, stating it was not necessary per NCCN guidelines - this medication has caused a marked increase in osteoporosis and osteopenia in 3 years. IMO, this medicine is the only option other than Tamoxifen, which my oncologist said may cause blood clots and kidney issues."

• tri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2023

"I had a lumpectomy in August and radiation in December. Tests show no cancer and no spread. I have had extreme trouble walking and sleeping due to pain throughout my body. They are telling me it is neuropathy. I hope to stop exemestane in the near future as I believe cancer drugs are the problem, but necessary."

• dai...
• October 29, 2009

Exemestane "I have been on Aromasin for 2 years now. Prior I took Tamoxifen. Sure, there are side effects (pain in my leg, painful joints, and hot flashes) but I had stage 3 CA and am still alive 4.5 years."

• Mak...
• January 12, 2011

Exemestane "I have been taking Aromasin for 3 months now and still wake up every night in pain on my hand, tingling and burning along with joint pain."