RE: [Wellness] FW: Femara vs Tamoxifen/memory issues

["Beverly D." <bdubrin@ca.astound.net>]

Title: RE: [Wellness] FW: Femara vs Tamoxifen/memory issues

Dear Sarah,

Who's to really know what has happened to our bodies as a result ot chemo and the Tamoxifen/Femara regime. also, we are older and some, myself in particular, took birth control pills for years and HRT for 6 years...it all adds up, plus genetics and environment...very hard to pin down cause and effect, I fear. The good part is we are still here to debate the subject.

My best,

Beverly

At 8:48 AM -0400 8/17/04, Mott Sarah E wrote:

> It's not just the Tamox that causes memory impairment,
> it can also be chemo damaging your ovaries and lessening estrogen
> levels which are necessary for proper cognitive
> functioning.
> I was part of a research study in which I was tested
> for cognitive function before, just after, and a year after chemo. I
> was told I had no cognitive impairment, but I know that is not true. I
> had/have trouble remembering names and finding words sometimes, it can
> be very annoying. Multi-tasking is much more stressful than it used to
> be.
>  
> As with a lot of women's health issues, these symptoms
> were just not taken too seriously. It's nice to see they finally
> are.
>  
>  
>  
> > -----Original
> > Message-----
> > From: wellness-admin@womens-wellness.com
> > [mailto:wellness-admin@womens-wellness.com] On Behalf Of Mary
> > Hopper
> > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 3:14 PM
> > To: Karen Patterson; Wellness List; Beverly D.
> > Subject: Re: [Wellness] FW: Femara vs Tamoxifen/memory
> > issues
> > I took myself off Tamoxifen
> > after using it for 2 years -- memory impairment and extreme hot
> > flashes were my reasoning.  The hot flashes have diminished
> > considerably and who knows about the memory
> > impairment.
> >  
> > I am thankful for this forum
> > and read and save each one for future reference.  Thank all of
> > you for being there.
> >  
> > Mary Shular Hopper
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Beverly D.
> > > To: Karen Patterson ; Wellness
> > > List
> > > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 2:20 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [Wellness] FW: Femara vs
> > > Tamoxifen/memory issues
> > >
> > > Well, ladies, the timing was perfect....I had an oncology
> > > checkup today (all OK...isn't this a nerve-wracking event?) and asked
> > > my doctor about memory loss from both drugs. His reply: Yes it does
> > > happen basically because our poor brains are being deprived of
> > > estrogen with both drugs. The current evaluations reveal that Femara
> > > is causing it less tho.
> > >
> > > The medical community is actually recognizing that this is
> > > happening and many doctors are putting their patients into special
> > > classes, much on the order of classes that stroke victims go to, to
> > > work on memory skills and developing other parts of the
> > > brain.
> > >
> > > As one who went thru 5 years of Tamoxifen and now 6 months
> > > of Femara, I do not know if I have had memory issues...the next
> > > question, is how would I know, if I couldn't remember?
> > >
> > > Hang in there ladies...hope this helps a bit and offers
> > > some Northern California thinking on the matter.
> > >
> > > Beverly
> > >
> > >
> > > At 1:36 PM -0400 8/15/04, Karen Patterson wrote:
> > > > I know some of you have made this switch.  Can
> > > > anyone offer help?
> > > >  
> > > > Here is the
> > > > research I found when this question came up previously:
> > > >  
> > > > http://www.us.femara.com/index.jsp
> > > > http://www.us.femara.com/info/index?hcp=no&page=about
> > > > http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2001/ANS01064.html
> > > > http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/Breastcancer/Drugtherapy/Femara/WhenisFem
> > > > araprescribed
> > > > http://www.us.femara.com/info/page/stayinghealthy
> > > > http://www.us.femara.com/info/page/stayinghealthy-menopausal
> > > >  
> > > > Also if you
> > > > go to the archives and type in Femara you will see some conversations
> > > > others had.  Good luck,
> > > > Karen
> > > >  
> > > >  
> > > > -----Original
> > > > Message-----
> > > > From: LRBogan@aol.com [mailto:LRBogan@aol.com]
> > > > Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2004 12:39 PM
> > > > To: Patterson@womens-wellness.com
> > > > Subject: Femara vs
> > > > Tamoxifen/memory issues
> > > > Hi friends,
> > > >
> > > > I have been a member in this wonderful support group and have gleaned
> > > > a myriad understanding of my disease. I have done extensive research
> > > > all for naught it seems about switching from Tamoxifen to Femara.
> > > > Basically I am wondering in any of you have had to get off of
> > > > Tamoxifen due to serious mental and memory impairment; what I would
> > > > describe as panic attacks, severe memory impairment, fear of sounding
> > > > stupid in interactions with friends and coworkers due to a kind of
> > > > "mind brain" separation. I took myself off of Tamoxifen and
> > > > called my doctor immediately. It was I who suggested Femara. His
> > > > response was, "OK, I will write you in a prescription." He
> > > > actually saw me in that horrible condition and said, while he has
> > > > never heard of this side effect, he did not rule it out.
> > > >
> > > > >From what I know about Femara, it is a medication that is prescribed
> > > > after the five year use of Tamoxifen? Any responses out there; as I
> > > > fear that I have taken myself off of the supposedly creme DE la creme
> > > > of cancer medications.
> > > >
> > > > I was diagnosed with third stage breast cancer in April 2001.
> > > >
> > > > Lana
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > **********    Beverly Dubrin's
> > > Where-To-Guide    
> > > **********
> > >
> > > Where To Go For Dining, Shopping,&
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