Femara and Bone Pain: What Users Say

• Lit...
• July 9, 2009

For Breast Cancer "I have been on Femara for 3 months. After taking Tamoxifen for approximately 2 years, which I could not tolerate any longer, my oncologist put me on Femara. While my hot flashes have pretty much disappeared, the joint and bone pain I am suffering is unbearable. My elbows, hands, fingers, knees, ankles, and feet are the worst. In the mornings, I cannot get out of bed. I take thyroid medicine in the morning and cannot open the bottle. It takes about 20 minutes before I can close my fingers or bend my toes. Nighttime is also bad. After sitting for short periods, I cannot get up. I have never felt better in my life except for the constant agonizing pain. I am a very active 49-year-old but feel like I am 90. This pain gets worse every day. I can only imagine what it will be like in 3 more months. I am seeing my oncologist this week and am going to tell him I am stopping this drug. I believe the quality of my life is more important than the quantity."

• dog...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 19, 2014

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "I was diagnosed in 2009, had lumpectomy, chemo, radiation. Managed to continue working through it all. Then took tamoxifen for 2 1/2 years... had horrible muscle cramping and hot flashes, switched to letrozole after determining I was postmenopausal. The major muscle cramps lessened considerably, as did the hot flashes. I took this for 2 1/2 years, just stopping 3 weeks ago. I have muscle, joint, bone achiness 24/7, no energy, tired always, feel like I'm in a fog, tinnitus, heartburn, slow metabolism with weight gain. How long will it take to reverse all of these side effects now that I no longer take it? I even quit taking ibuprofen because it doesn't do anything for the pains. I am now 2 months from being 50 years old."

• Sus...
• September 7, 2010

For Breast Cancer "I'm 4 years status post breast CA and doing well... no recurrence for my Stage IIIA. I started taking tamoxifen, then my oncologist switched me to Femara. I do have frequent hot flashes (whew!) and joint and bone pain that worsens with being tired. Overall, I am able to tolerate the medication, and my oncologist believes it is the treatment of choice for me. The side effects of being without estrogen are worse than the Femara side effects. I know the drug is working as having no estrogen produced results in atrophic vaginitis, decreased sex drive, and other female issues that are bothersome. But, in the big picture of life, it's a small price to pay to be, and hopefully stay, cancer free. I will continue to use Femara!"

• Jil...
• November 30, 2015

For Breast Cancer "Stage 4 HER2-positive breast cancer was found in 2011. After a double mastectomy (additionally, 6 other surgeries due to Staph infection and failed reconstruction attempts), 6 months of 2 types of chemotherapy, including Neulasta booster shots after each infusion, a total of 1 year of Herceptin chemo infusions, 6 weeks of daily radiation, then 8 years of Femara. Been taking this medication daily since August 2012. Hot flashes and night sweats are awful. Anxiety occasionally. Easily out of breath after any activity. Difficulty maintaining focus and frequent forgetfulness. 3 years with this medication and chest, bone, and joint pain is intensifying. 5 more years to go. CANCER FREE STILL."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 29, 2015

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Stage IIIc lobular breast CA, node, started generic Femara 18 months ago after radiation. Minor side effects - hair loss, nails, skin, vaginal dryness. Major - started out with tolerable joint, bone, and muscle pain. But about a month ago, these symptoms became severe enough to decrease my quality of life. My oncologist did blood work, all okay. She wanted a bone scan, but after reading reviews, this is the Femara, not bone cancer. She just has not had any patients do this, the literature is based on trials, not the general population. The literature (and she told me) the symptoms go away by 8 months! Not!! I also have MS (still mobile, but that has some same/similar side effects) but Femara more like arthritis. Knees, ankles. Stay on though!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2021

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "Bone pain, trigger fingers, joint pain, hip pain, wrists/thumbs repeated tendonitis, low energy. From anastrozole to letrozole, issues persist, worse over time. Still on it, but had to stop working. Managing to stay on as benefit outweighs risk."