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jaykay · 07-16-2016, 05:14 PM

Hi Jean,

I'm in a little bit of a different situation. I was on tamoxifen for 4.5 years and Femara for 5 years. With my oncologist's blessing, I stopped Femara in January 2010. In September 2012, I developed a "new primary" in my other breast (aka the good one :-)) with the exact same pathology as the original cancer. Please note the quotes around "new...". I take the "new" terminology with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Intellectually, I know that Her2 is the reason for the new cancer but I couldn't help but think if the Femara was helping to keep things under control as well. And it was nice going off the drug.

Anyway, back on Femara for the past 3 years and I see no end in sight. I'm not sure if the joint/back/etc pain is age or AI related - probably a combination of both. I know the AI has not helped my osteopenia. I do take Vitamin D3 daily and my numbers are consistently in the high 50's which is where my docs like it. I also exercise regularly.

I have no answers for you other than to enjoy the break and see how you feel in a month or so. I was told (a long time ago) that it takes a month for AIs to get out of your system.

Best
Janis

07-16-2016, 05:14 PM	#7
jaykay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 645	Re: Femara Hi Jean, I'm in a little bit of a different situation. I was on tamoxifen for 4.5 years and Femara for 5 years. With my oncologist's blessing, I stopped Femara in January 2010. In September 2012, I developed a "new primary" in my other breast (aka the good one :-)) with the exact same pathology as the original cancer. Please note the quotes around "new...". I take the "new" terminology with a healthy dose of skepticism. Intellectually, I know that Her2 is the reason for the new cancer but I couldn't help but think if the Femara was helping to keep things under control as well. And it was nice going off the drug. Anyway, back on Femara for the past 3 years and I see no end in sight. I'm not sure if the joint/back/etc pain is age or AI related - probably a combination of both. I know the AI has not helped my osteopenia. I do take Vitamin D3 daily and my numbers are consistently in the high 50's which is where my docs like it. I also exercise regularly. I have no answers for you other than to enjoy the break and see how you feel in a month or so. I was told (a long time ago) that it takes a month for AIs to get out of your system. Best Janis __________________ March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010) Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70% BRCA 1 and 2 negative October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks. March 14, 2013: Finished chemo April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x May 22, 2013: Finished rads June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs. July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin December 5, 2013: Port removed Glad this year is over!