Feb 2000 my wfie was diagnosed with BC, stage 2 (6 lymph nodes).
Surgery/Chemo/Radiation all OK for two years until a scare. A blip on
a bone scan sent everyone running but it turned out to be arthritis
(CAT scan showed no cancer). The scare caused her onc to change her
med from tamox to femara and he didn't switch back after the CAT scan
showed no reason to worry.

Now my wife has finished 5 years of Femara and she's so ready to be
done with it. The feelings of old-age before her time, pains moving
around her body (first the right thigh for 5-6 months, now gone, then
in the feet, now in her right hip..all elusively hard to pin down),
lack of appetite, etc. The pains are alleviated through Alleve and the
like but she's taken so much her stomach can't really take any more
and so we're looking for a better way to alleve the achy symptoms,
namely getting off femara.

We've changed oncologist and our meeting with the new onc is in
January. Not too far away but she's ready to toss the Femara. Anyone
know what the protocol is these days? I'm sure it changes depending on
the severity of one's case but I thought originally it was 5 years
Tamox., then 5 years of Femara. We're thinking of a preemptive strike--
get off femara now and see what the onc says in January. If she wants
to continue with the medication we can ask for alternatives. thought?