01 Dec 2017

Letrozole (Brand Name: Femara) is an orally active nonsteroidal compound that reversibly inhibits aromatization all over the body, as well as that within the breast cancer cells, resulting in nearly total estrogen deprivation.It is a selective inhibitor of estrogen formation.it inhibits the estrogen synthesis by inhibition of aromatase enzyme that is crucial for the formation of estrogen.The proliferation of estrogen-dependent breast cancer is suppressed to a greater extent than with tamoxifen.here is a very important article on femara http://www.drugsbanks.com/2017/12/01/important-information-about-femara-letrozole/

—Posted by Drugsbank

19 Nov 2015

So far, I have not had side effects on Femara. I hope it stays this way.

—Posted by Anonymous

06 Dec 2014

Lisa: Sorry to hear of your multiple fibroid problems. I'm certainly not a professional by any means. In 2001, I had emergency surgery for a large ruptured fibroid which had attached itself or was feeding off of about everything in the lower abdomen! I had two excellent surgeons, tho, and after the removal of the fibroid and the female organs and repair to things it had attached to...I faired pretty well! I was having the symptoms you mention, however, and was NOT on the letrozole at that time! So I'm wondering if your symptoms are not coming from the fibroids and the imbalance of female hormones as much as the Femara. I'm thinking you will feel like a new person when you are rid of those tumors. I was 50 when I was confronted with side pelvic pain and high fever (my only symptoms). I've been on Femara since 2011. My symptoms have pretty much remained steady....fleeting bone and muscle pain, insomnia, racing thoughts, fatigue, worse some days and not so much on others! But, honestly, I am not sure the Femara is to blame!! Since depression (which is natural when dealing with the things we are dealing with) and can be much worse insome of us, prone to it, can cause many of the same symptoms as medications can, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, lack of motivation, feeling of being "out of control" with your life, weight loss, emotionally unstable...from crying to being angry at everything, racing thoughts (can't get your mind to shut down, stay focused, and relaxed) and about 30 other symptoms...it's very hard to know if it is the med or the combination of everything! I've had breast cancer with lymph node involvement in 2009 and a recurrence of it in 2010 which resulted in a double mastectomy and just 4 weeks after that, underwent a partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer (not related to the breast cancer). Following that, I suffered with DVT's in my right leg and am now on blood thinners. I feel like the Femara may be helping to keep the estrogen lowered so as not to give the breast cancer a chance to spread! The side effects are minimal for me when I think of the alternative. A CT scan in the Fall indicated I was cancer free abdominnally and thoracically, however, I'm now dealing with skin cancer (small...size of a pencil eraser) which will be removed hopefully in a couple weeks. I'm betting that within 3 weeks of your surgery (allowing time to heal)...you will be feeling so much better, you'll hardly be able to believe how many symptoms you are currently having that are because of the hormonal imbalances from those stupid tumors! Especially if any of them have ruptured and setting up infections, etc.! Your mental attitude towards all of this can play an overwhelming part in how you feel. Been there, done that! Hang in there....many of the things you are experiencing, you are helpless to control right now. It is amazing how much our bodies rely on the correct amount of any particular hormone or chemical to keep us feeling awesome! Good luck, Lisa...Saying a prayer for you that your surgery goes well, you recover quickly, and feel like a "new woman" when all is said and done!! I'll throw this out there as one last thought....I took Estrodial after my hysterectomy in 2001...in 2007, I had a microcalcification in my breast..which within 18 months turned to cancer! So I would think long and hard about taking a female hormone replacement to help hot flashes if they take your ovaries...and I'd also suggest removal of your cervix to avoid cancer in it! Please talk to your doctor and understand thoroughly anything that is suggested. We have to educate ourselves...because some doctors are too busy pushing the latest drug the pharmaceutical company is pitching at them for kickbacks, rather than the true welfare of their patients! There are natural supplements that can do very well if you have problems. (Again, it takes certain doctors to suggest natural over chemically or artificially made! :) (Oh, and if there are errors in this "book", I've written...I blame something called "chemo brain"! I have an excuse for everything! Be strong girl....you will be alright!!! Oh...and I, too, hope you don't ever have to take Femara again!! I'm on it for at least 5 years...and some doctors are thinking 10 might be good! (probably guinea pigs) :)

—Posted by Debija62