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

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

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

Yes, Adriamycin is hard on the heart and problems can show up later on. I had to have a MUGA scan before I started my chemo to assure my heart was strong. It still is difficult for us to evaluate the plusses and minuses of our treatment choices.

Thanks Karen, for all your info and support,

Beverly

At 7:35 AM -0400 8/18/04, Karen Patterson wrote:

> 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
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > **********    Beverly Dubrin's
> > > > > Where-To-Guide     **********
> > > > >
> > > > > Where To Go For Dining, Shopping,&
> > > > > Travel
> > > > > www.where-to-guide.com
> > >  
> > > The information contained in this e-mail may be
> > > confidential and is intended solely for the use of the named
> > > addressee.
> > > Access, copying or re-use of the e-mail or any
> > > information contained therein by any other person is not
> > > authorized.
> > > If you are not the intended recipient please notify us
> > > immediately by returning the e-mail to the originator.(B)
> > >  
> >
> >
> > --
> > **********    Beverly Dubrin's
> > Where-To-Guide    
> > **********
> >
> > Where To Go For Dining, Shopping,&
> > Travel
> > www.where-to-guide.com

-- 

**********    Beverly Dubrin's Where-To-Guide     **********

Where To Go For Dining, Shopping,& Travel

www.where-to-guide.com