Fulvestrant and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Ano...
• January 18, 2012

Fulvestrant for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer five years ago and have been on Faslodex for four years, which has made my cancer stable. The side effects I experience are: sweating, hot flashes, severe bone pain, nausea, fatigue big time, constipation, etc. It is worth it to me because it is all tolerable, and the other alternative is my cancer would start growing again. I call this my chemo because it is stopping my cancer. I am also losing all my teeth because of dry mouth and don't know if that is from the Faslodex or the harsh chemo I was on before."

• Lam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 29, 2020

Fulvestrant for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I'm currently on Faslodex/letrozole for 18 months. Prior to Faslodex, I was on Ibrance for 33 months before I had progression. I have joint pain, nausea, night sweats, etc. Usually, 2 weeks a month I'm totally fatigued. My good days are great! I have scans this week and hope that the disease is stable. I have mets to lungs and bones. Thriving 4 years 3 months and feel I'm doing well at 67!"

• san...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2024

Fulvestrant for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "After Ibrance and letrozole failed me after 3 years, my doctor put me on Faslodex, going on 5 years. I go months with no side effects, then out of the blue, I'm achy everywhere. But blood tests and scans are all clear. The fatigue is tough at times, but other than that, I am happy with the results and hope this medication can keep me going for a long, long time."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2019

Fulvestrant for Breast Cancer, Metastatic "I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, mets to bone, this past April. I have been on Faslodex (5 months), Xgeva (4 months), and Ibrance (2+ months). My Dr. has weaned me off everything because of side effects of EXTREME fatigue, weakness, nausea, shortness of breath, bone pain, dizziness, low white blood cells (WBC), which is from the Ibrance. I can tell the Xgeva was responsible for the majority of my weakness, but the Faslodex still has me so weak that I want to buy a walker. I can also tell you that my nurse warmed my shot for 20 to 30 minutes and gave me my injections high on my butt, with no weight on the corresponding leg, and that I had no pain whatsoever. I also used Biotin mouthwash per dentist. I have two weeks until Faslodex is entirely out of my system. It did work in healing my lesions per my CT scans, it's just the side effects were too debilitating."

• 708...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2023

For Breast Cancer, Metastatic "Started fulvestrant 2/2022. Was fine until 4/2022. From 4/2022-10/2022, I was severely fatigued. In April, I spent 11 days in bed, feeling overall like poop. I had my labs done, which showed nothing. Covid and flu tested negative. Dr. says not fulvestrant. After the 11 days, I was slightly better. Still sleeping 11-12 hours and on the couch, and when I did get up, I was not hungry at all. Forced myself to eat. A few times, I was so weak I went to the oncology office in a wheelchair and lay down once inside. The only way I felt halfway decent was laying down. My BP was fine. Still no explanation. I skipped my Oct shot and began to feel better, slow but improving. Resumed shot in Nov 2022. Fatigued but not anywhere close to that level. After the Dec 2022 injection, my neuropathy started returning in my feet. I had it from chemo back in 2010. It went away 2011/12. It’s mostly at night after I go to bed and my feet get hot. The balls of my feet up to where my toes begin itch so bad. Nothing helps. I took Jan 2023 off. Neuropathy continues. Will be stopping."