[Wellness] FW: Femara vs Tamoxifen/memory issues

["Karen Patterson" <Patterson@womens-wellness.com>]

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

Good info from Bunny.  Thanks

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bunny Phillips [mailto:bunny01@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 9:36 AM
To: Karen Patterson
Subject: Re: [Wellness] FW: Femara vs Tamoxifen/memory issues

My radiation doctor recently told me that thinning of the bones is the main side effect she is seeing from Femera.

Bunny

----- Original Message -----

From: Karen Patterson

To: Mary Hopper ; Wellness List

Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 5:35 AM

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

Sarah and Beverly are so right.  What concerns me most is that most of this research has been available since 2000 and neither the drug companies or our physicians inform patients of these side effects.  When I first had my first rounds chemo in 1997 I was handed a laundry list of over 100 possible side effects.  I was so overwhelmed I remember asking the doctor why I wanted to do this?  Somewhere in that list was forced menopause which neither my husband or I picked up and the doctor never recognized the symptoms when I presented them three months later.  I know that menopause effects brain functioning BUT forced menopause over 18 weeks is quite another story.  It took my onc about three years to place credence in chemo brain research results and that was three years too many.  I feel the same about Tamoxifen and Femara.  Patients are told all the reasons why they need to take the drug, but painfully little of the side effect info and research results. I think we are beginning to see a change in this as more patients advocate their own care and enter each situation informed and prepared to differ with the doc.  I have many times said no to a drug after doing my own research.  Remember, Tamoxifen was not indicated for my personal treatment because I was ER/HR negative.  My current concern and one I will be passing on much info in the near future is cardiac damage/disease from all these treatments and menopause.  I have been doing a lot of research recently but have not had the time to write it up.  I will try to this week.  Adriamycin, in particular, is very hard on the heart. 

 

Thank you ladies for always being there to share your experiences, knowledge and support.  We all appreciate greatly.  May total wellness always be your goal.

 

My best,

Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: wellness-admin@womens-wellness.com [mailto:wellness-admin@womens-wellness.com]On Behalf Of Beverly D.
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 7:10 PM
To: Mott Sarah E; Mary Hopper; Karen Patterson; Wellness List
Subject: 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

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