Gain vs. Pain: Is It Time To Switch Back To Tamoxifen?

Your research and post is so helpful to all those who are in this exact spot.  Thank you thank you.

PJ thank you for such a clear explanation about the difference between these types of drugs and for the reminder that we make the choices about our health care balancing risks and benefits in an informed way.

This is very interesting.  I'm curious what what you know about those of us on AI's that are taking a bisphosphanate (bone strengthener).  I'm in a clinical trial taking Ibandronate.  It's my understanding it is supposed to help with bone strength and decrease the change of metastises to the bones.  Thank you.

I Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer A Year Ago. I Took Radiation Treatments And I Am On Femara. I Have Read All About The Side Effects Of Femara, And I Am Having Problems , At Least 4 Of Them So Far. I Have Nausea, Fatigue, And Very Severe Pain All Over. My Feet Swells So Bad, I Can Hardly Walk. Why Are These Drugs Causing So Much Pain And  Discomfort, If They Are Supposed To Be Helping? Thank You.

I am a breast cancer survivor, now taking Femara.  I did not know that this drug had anything to do with our bones or muscels. I just had my left rotar cuff repaired, it was massive.  I'm looking at 4 months rehad, and my right rotar cuff needs repair also. Does anyone else have this connection?  Did any of you out there think your BS was caused by HRT?

I stopped Arimidex and all because of bone aches. I looked at the stats and made the choice for myself that no aches was what I wanted.

I have been in an exercise study to increase bone density and in chatting with the other members all breast cancer survivors, there are so many of us that have had knee surgeries, meniscus. I mentioned this to the principal doctor who says another doctor is looking at knee and shoulder injuries and like the chicken and the egg, which came first breast cancer of the injury? Is it an old injury, is it the age of the person or is it a coincidence??

My answer is yes, and I've been taking Arimidex for ten months.  I now have severe carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands, and bones have deteriorated 9% since my bone density test last year.  Severe pain in hand, hip and knee.  I'm planning to stop Arimidex, and my doctor said tamoxifen wouldn't be suitable for me.

"Arimidex won't work if the ovaries are still producing hormones"  I didn't know that. Where can you find that information?

I had my hysterectomy long ago but the ovaries are still in tact. I am post menopausal, so how can one know whether the ovaries are still producing hormones or not? ER and PR can also be produced from other parts of the body too, are there different kinds of estrogens and progesterones?  

Thank you so much for your comments! I would appreciate it! 

hello. im nanette, remember me? lol prob not. but, anyways i just found out im stage 2 breast cancer and am on tamoxifen. i do get joint pain in my hands and legs. my oncologist gives me aspirin with codeine hahaha not working. my daughter has to give me cortisone shots and they work, for now ,real good. shes in the medical field as i am thank God. im still waiting 2 years later for my assymetry. ive paid the plastic surgeon. `ive heard that tamoxifen makes you fat. i will not accept that. im an active woman and thats not gonna happen. im finally getting the brca test as my sister now has stage 2 breast cancer too. what a crazy disease. thx for informing everyone. nanette 

I have been taking Femara for almost 3 years with enough joint pain to want to stop and live my normal life again, but I was more afraid of a recurrance than going back to living like a 50 year old with a very active lifestyle.  I have never been into suppliments but since I started on Femara I have been religious about taking Calcium and Vit. D.  Six months ago I started taking 1200 mg of fish oil since I read it was good for your heart and to my surprise within 2 months I realized I was pain free.  I am not sure exactly when I became pain free but I was down on the floor and got up quickly without crawling up with the help of another object and I was shocked.  I was my normal pain free self.  I told my doctor about it but he said he didn't think it had anything to do with it.  I wasn't taking it to prevent pain so I know it was not a subconscious thing.  I did ask him if by chance it was preventing my Femara from working, as the pain started immediately when I started taking it.  He assured me it was not inactivating it.  I thought I would share this with anyone that is having joint pain with Femara as I know I was feeling like I had the joints of an 80 year old and I was getting weak muscles from not being able to move the way I used to.  I am now back to walking miles briskly and dancing.  I even started tap dancing classes and have gotten my strength in my legs back.  I travel a lot and it's great to be back into my normal active world again.  I can climb and hike the way I used to without limping along the way.  If it can't hurt you, it isn't very expensive and I would suggest trying it. 

I took Tamoxifin for about 14 months.  Last October I had my ovaries removed and then started Arimidex.   The joint pain was nearly unbearable.   I finally started an exercise program.   It has helped tremendously.  I still have discomfort and stiffness, but at least I can walk without the excrutiating pain.

I took Arimidex until I could barely walk.  I did the Race for the Cure one year and was couch bound for 2 days afterward.  I switched to Tamoxofin and have had no joint pain, just the other lovely side effects that come with Tamoxofin.  I am having a D&C Thursday because I am having uterine issues and they need to rule out that kind of cancer as it is a side effect of Tamoxofin.  I have 6 months left on it and then I will be done as it has been 5 years.  I for one could not take the side effects of the AI's.  I felt like I was 100 years old.