Home
About Femara
The BIG 1-98 Study
Therapy After Surgery
Healthy Living Tips
-  Diet
-  Exercise
-  Emotional Wellness
-  Bone Health
-  Managing Menopause
Patient Programs
About Breast Cancer
Healthy Living Tips

Healthy Living Tips

Taking Care of Your Health

You are much more than your diagnosis of breast cancer. It's important to keep in mind your general well-being as a woman. That means doing all you can to promote your overall health, both physical and emotional. This includes taking your medicine every day as prescribed by your doctor, eating a balanced diet, getting adequate rest, exercising regularly, developing resources to help you manage your emotional wellness, helping maintain your bone health, learning to manage menopause, and making time in your day for the people and activities that give you pleasure.

DietDiet
ExerciseExercise
Emotional WellnessEmotional Wellness
Bone HealthBone Health
Managing MenopauseManaging Menopause







Remember to check with your doctor before beginning or changing an exercise plan. Always consult your doctor before changing your diet.

Regular Medical Follow Up

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation recommends the following routine medical care for women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer.†

  • Follow-up office visits with your physician for a complete physical examination, every four to six months for the first five years following treatment, then every 12 months.

  • Annual mammograms of the unaffected breast for women who have had a mastectomy.

  • Annual mammograms of both breasts for women who have had a lumpectomy .

  • Monthly self-examination of both breasts.

  • Annual pelvic examination.

Rest and Relaxation †
  • Get a good night's sleep. About eight hours is usually recommended for adults.

  • Do something relaxing before bedtime: read, watch television,take a bath.

  • Learn and practice relaxation techniques. This may help you emotionally and physically.

†Please consult your doctor for specific recommendations.

Learn more about Femara patient programs Learn more about Femara patient programs

*The Femara Cares Program™ Prescription Discount Card allows you to pay only $10 for your Femara prescriptions, if you are eligible. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation will pay the rest, up to a maximum of $800 in any 12-month period, toward your Femara prescriptions. This card is subject to change or termination at any time.

Not all patients will receive a total of $800 per year off their prescriptions. Total value of card determined by applicable patient co-pay or out-of-pocket cost.

The Femara Cares Program™ Prescription Discount Card is not valid for prescriptions for which payment may be made in whole or in part under federal or state healthcare programs, including but not limited to, Medicare or Medicaid, or for residents in MA. Limitations apply.

 

Indication
Femara® (letrozole tablets) is approved for the adjuvant (following surgery) treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early stage breast cancer. The benefits of Femara in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment. Further follow-up will be needed to determine long-term results, safety and efficacy.

Femara is also approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of early stage breast cancer in postmenopausal women who are within three months of completion of five years of tamoxifen therapy. The benefits of Femara in clinical trials are based on 24 months of treatment. Further follow-up will be needed to determine long-term results, including side effects.

In addition, Femara is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive or estrogen receptor-unknown breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body (metastatic cancer). Femara is also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy.

Important Safety Information

You should not take Femara if you are premenopausal. Your doctor should discuss the need for adequate birth control if you have the potential to become pregnant, if you are not sure of your postmenopausal status, or if you recently became postmenopausal. Femara is only indicated in postmenopausal women. Talk to your doctor if you're allergic to Femara or any of its ingredients. You should not take Femara if you are pregnant as it may cause harm to an unborn child. Some women reported fatigue and dizziness with Femara. Until you know how it affects you, use caution before driving or operating machinery. Some patients taking Femara had an increase in cholesterol. Additional follow-up is needed to determine the risk of bone fracture associated with long-term use of Femara.

In the adjuvant setting, commonly reported side effects are generally mild to moderate. The most common side effects seen with Femara include hot flashes, joint pain, night sweats, weight gain, nausea, tiredness, other heart-related events, and bone fractures. Other less commonly reported side effects include vaginal bleeding, blood clots, other cancers, osteoporosis, stroke, heart attack, and endometrial cancer.

In the extended adjuvant setting, commonly reported side effects are generally mild to moderate. Commonly reported side effects for Femara include hot flashes, fatigue, joint pain, headache, increase in sweating, swelling due to fluid retention, increase in cholesterol, dizziness, constipation, nausea, heart-related problems, muscle pain, osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone fracture.

In the metastatic cancer setting, commonly reported side effects are generally mild to moderate and may include bone pain, hot flashes, back pain, nausea, joint pain, shortness of breath, tiredness, coughing, constipation, limb pain, chest pain, and headache.

Femara is a once-daily convenient prescription tablet.

For additional safety information, please see the prescribing information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.