femara after tomoxifen

[checkers]

I have finished my 5 years on tomoxifen and am now into my second year of femara.  I have had joint pain in my fingers, toes, and now knees.  It has progressed to get worse the longer I take the drug.  My hands are swollen and I often wake up in the middle of the night due to the pain.  What can I do to ease the pain?  I want to do what I can to keep the breast cancer at bay but it is effecting my way of  life.

[RenCarp]

Hi Checkers...sounds like Fibromyalgia...which I suffered from for 17 years and am now symptom free for almost 4 years...it gets worse as more and more toxins build up in your body.  Your liver is overworked and can not get rid of them all. Pain that's not from an injury is often caused by toxins. All medications are toxic to your body and build up over time. The more toxins you have the more pain.  I detoxed myself and am now medication free..it takes awhile. I did it with juicing and mineral and vitamin supplements. Eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables and frozen when fresh isn't available. There are some key supplements...all natural stuff that will help hurry the process along. Also by going to natural foods, supplements and a healthier lifestyle will protect you from cancer and you will feel much better. Hope your time on the femara is coming to an end and that you will be enjoying good health again very soon.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Checkers:  Arthralgias - aches and pains in the joints, this is a side effect reported with the medication Femara  (letrozole), however, there are other conditions that could also contribute to joint pain.  As with any symptom discussing it with your health care professional so a proper assessment can be made and suggestions for management of the discomfort.  

I am attaching for you a link to the website www.Chemocare.com.  There is a section under managing side effects that discusses pain in more depth offering some suggestions for things you can try to help ease the discomfort.  The direct link to the area on the website is: http://www.chemocare.com/managing/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=24407&itype=1875

You may wish to discuss with your oncologist, the option of switching your aromatase inhibitor therapy to one of the other agents, such as anastrazole or exemestane, to determine whether you would better tolerate these other agents.

[claudelarsen]

Finished 5 years on tamoxifen, tolerated it well will only hot flashes and weight gain.  I have only been on femara for 2 weeks, already severe joint pain and swelling of fingers. Can anyone advise if the pain will lessen as my body gets used to the drug? Also, why isn't joint pain and swelling listed as a side effect on the drug information sheet? any comments

[carme]

When I was done with the Tamoxifen, I had bilateral mastectomies and a full hysterectomy, since I have a BRCA2 mutation.  The Tamoxifen made me swell and hurt too.
I find that Lipitor and Pravachol do the same...I had to quit them too.