Exemestane for Breast Cancer User Reviews (Page 4)

• Cessb...
• May 17, 2021

"I was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer in my left breast and stage 1 in my right. This is my 2 month taking iy. It is way better than the first one I was on. That made me really bad leg pain, stiffness snd charlie horses. When I started exemestane it made my hand itch like I wanted to scratch the skin off my hands but that went away. The only side effect I feel now is really, really tired lifeless but looking at other comments I will start exercising. I’ve been doing a lot of natural vitamins like Seamoss every day and I feel my energy coming back. Also get headaches and the voice is very hoarse at times and I feel like sometimes like a Charlie horse is coming but doesn’t really. I’ve been drinking a lot of water and Pedialyte to stay hydrated so far it’s not that bad I can maneuver around the symptoms"

• Breve...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 12, 2016

"The most significant side effect is the the non stop sweating. Not just a glow! LOL Having reade about side affects I do experience some of the others but not significantly. I was off it for awhile and now back on and am experiencinge loss of pigment in my genital area and lower stomach. Have not seen anything about this on the internet/ Has anyone else experienced this/"

• Diana
• November 27, 2023

Aromasin (exemestane) "So far so good, some hot flashes, but not bad. Sometimes cold but does not last long either one. I was on Anastrozole and it did not work out for me, no sleep, panic attacks. The Aromasin is letting me sleep. I do have some arm pain but my pain pills take care of that. But the bone pain is not every day, some foot pain but I use lidocaine cream 4% on it and it helps a lot. But it's only been about two and a half months."

• Ginyer
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 12, 2021

"After breast cancer treatment and surgery I was put on Anastrozole the side effects came on within a week; swollen painful joints, flushes, tired, but can't sleep and grrrhh - weight gain. I've since changed to exemestane, and guess what? Not a lot of difference in the s/effects!! The joints are less swollen and less painful, but still hurt. Burning hot flushes, worse at night. If the aching bones don't wake me, the flushes do (window open, duvet off, no clothes, still I sweat) never used to sweat during exercise, and I'm talking crossfit, but I do now. The exercise helps, as do a couple paracetamol to help me sleep until 2am. I now have the softest pillow, but even my ear cartilage pains will wake me. Stopped my anti depressant as I'd rather know about the feeling blue than masking it with yet more drugs, that and I want some sex drive, which is already flagging! I'm glad I'm cancer free but this exhaustion, being fat, flushes and pains!"

• Cat
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2023

"I have had multiple issues with side effects. It did not start off bad, but after a few years, I have bad bone and joint pain and neuropathy in my hands and feet. I also have headaches and insomnia. I went down to every other day with the 25 mg, but the side effects haven't changed. I only have 5 months left until I hit my 5-year mark and am looking forward to stopping. They have done their job in keeping me cancer-free but not without a lot of miserable side effects."

• Kathie...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 17, 2023

"Taking for 5 years now, fatigue, body aches, muscle cramps especially in my back, shortness of breath, hot flashes, night sweats. I've gotten used to it but not fun, but it's better than getting cancer again. Better than Letrozole side effects, I took that for 1 year and couldn't handle the joint pain so switched to Exemestane."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2023

"Still early days; just started last week. Have been changed from Letrozole due to hot flushes. So far, no hot flushes, which started very soon after being on Letrozole. Some difficulty getting off to sleep, but I had this problem before starting this medication also. It is too soon for me to rate the effectiveness of this drug, or to recommend this drug or not."

• Exeme...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 24, 2023

"I have now been on the drug for 6 1/2 years and it has been a nightmare. I have had every single side effect possible but the worst three side effects are the constant pain everywhere in my body, the osteoporosis, and the very frequent dizziness. That all being said, I am staying on the drug for the recommended 10 years for me because I have friends who have gone off of it and have gotten metastasized breast cancer. My fear of cancer overrides all the pain I deal with on a daily basis, but it is a horrible drug, make no mistake!"

• PMC
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 14, 2023

"This drug caused tiredness, lowering of the sound of my voice, thickening of eyebrows with growth at sharp angles (old man eyebrows), increased facial hair and the inability to concentrate due to the tiredness. By the second year I had to reduce the use from once a day to every other day. By the third year I tapered off to every three days and quit the drug completely during that year. I was supposed to have taken it for 5 years. I don’t know how effective this drug is/was. I have not had a recurrence of breast cancer since starting or stopping this drug. It was difficult to tolerate."

• Eve
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 15, 2023

"It has made me extremely tired and seems to have affected my cognitive abilities. My short-term memory is noticeably worse since taking this drug and in spite of sleeping well am always dragging through my day. Am continuing to do mild exercise but with difficulty. I am considering going off this drug due to how it is affecting my quality of life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2023

"I’ve been taking it for 9 months and have extreme joint pain. The first few months weren’t too bad except for the hot flashes. However, now the joint pain is so bad. I contacted my doctor and she told me to stop taking it for a few weeks to see if the joint pain gets better."

• roberta
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2023

"I am currently taking exemestane 25 mg daily, after having both breasts removed for cancer. I find that I am extremely lethargic - tired from morning to night. I am looking for an alternative drug without this side effect. Very debilitating."

• Linda
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 23, 2022

"I have been on this 2.5 years. I hate it! I have put on so much weight in my mid section that I don’t even recognize my body anymore. Hot flashes, restless sleep and nerve pain that travels to different parts of my body. I’ve always had headaches, migraines so I can’t say that it’s from the medication. I am so tempted to just stop taking it. I mean 2.5 years seems sufficient. This is awful"

• Confu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 20, 2022

"So many reviews of this drug with horrible side effects. My journey started last May with stage 1A breast cancer, ER positive. Lumpectomy with 2 nodes removed in June. Started Radiation in August along with Anastrozole. Started having burning pins and needle feeling in my face, then went my head. Every few weeks it spread to a different part. Radiation oncologist and medical oncologist said no it was not radiation or hormone blockers causing this. I suffered from hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea , low libido, depression, bone pain, confusion and memory issues, vaginal dryness, hair loss. I kept telling doctors it was the medication but they insisted it was not. In December the oncologist switched me to Exemestane because I complained. The bone pain lifted but started having frequent urination, bladder issues. Had a severe sore throat for a month. Started having itching from chest up so oncologist finally took me off. I have appointment tomorrow."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2022

"I have been taking exemestane for three years now and after a year of struggling with the side effects I've decided to stop taking it. I feel like I'm 99 years old. I cry all the time. I have had problems with my stomach and bowel. I now need hearing aids. My body aches constantly all over. I have neuropathy in my foot. My foot continuously twitches. I just want quality of life. And to feel happy again. It hasn't been an easy decision. I have to do it for myself not any one else."

• RSM
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 28, 2023

"1st few months only minor, occassional joint pain along with mild intermitten hot flashes. After that had increasing joint pain issues and significant pain in wrist. Still cant bend my left thumb joint. Oncologist switched me to Tamoxifen about a month ago. No change in pain levels though. Took 25 mg. daily."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 25, 2023

"Lots of weight gain, like 30 pounds from before taking it. My weight had been stable for 15 years before taking exemestane, and it keeps going up, with no dietary change. Usual joint pain, especially in my knees after sitting and then getting up. Bad coughing spells ocassionally, like once a month, but then it won't stop for an hour or two. Often when I'm in bed the larynx irritation starts and I have to get up to cough for 1 or 2 hours."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 16, 2023

"I have been on this for over eight years. I hate it! It’s really starting to take a toll on my physical and mental state. My skin is a mess (skin tags, yuk), weight gain, insomnia, facial hair, and thinning hair. I need to come off of it. My doctor recommends I take it for 10 years."

• tricie
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2023

"I had a lumpectomy in August and radiation in December. Tests show no cancer and no spread. I have had extreme trouble walking and sleeping due to pain throughout my body. They are telling me it is neuropathy. I hope to stop exemestane in the near future as I believe cancer drugs are the problem, but necessary."

• Lesley
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2024

"I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 3 breast cancer in 2021. I had a lumpectomy, 6 months chemotherapy, and 2 weeks radiography followed by 10 years of hormone therapy. I was put on exemestane and found overall it was tolerated, but it is causing me distress with the amount of hair I'm losing. I feel ashamed for complaining about this after all; it's a small price to pay. I am, however, going to consult the hospital to see if I can get this medication changed."

• daisy
• October 29, 2009

Aromasin (exemestane) "I have been on Aromasin for 2 years now. Prior I took Tamoxifen. Sure, there are side effects (pain in my leg, painful joints, and hot flashes) but I had stage 3 CA and am still alive 4.5 years."

• roll...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2013

Aromasin (exemestane) "Quit anastrozole after 4 months, was making me so tired, could hardly get out of bed, falling asleep at the wheel. Have been on Aromasin for 4 months and my hair is falling out quite a lot. "

• Makal...
• January 12, 2011

Aromasin (exemestane) "I have been taking Aromasin for 3 months now and still wake up every night in pain on my hand, tingling and burning along with joint pain."

• zpix
• February 2, 2009

Aromasin (exemestane) "Aromasin is a walk in the park after using the other aromatase inhibitors."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 1, 2023

Aromasin (exemestane) "I am a 4-time cancer survivor. I've been taking this drug for 9 years and I'm cancer-free."