Letrozole/Femara

Hi Josephine

I was the exact same as you on femara.the joint asnt muscle pain were crippling I could only manage 6 months on it went back crying to oncologist.I am now on exemestane for the last 5 months have review at end of this month.The joint pain is not as bad but not great I find my feet and ankles are worst effected closely followed by shoulders and neck.mornings are definitely worst but I can't sit for too long either.I have to say it was a relief to read your experience on femara as I was really thinking that I was getting a bit neurotic!!

For me on this one I'm really finding the hair thinning my biggest problem(I haves a lovely thinned patch right at front of parting).my options are like you to go back to tamoxifen if I can't tolerate this.

So nice to know when I'm coming down stairs in the morn one by one sideways as the pet turtle whizzes past I'm not on my own!!! Don't know about you but I feel as though my feet will snap.

Hope all is well with you otherwise and your feeling good.

Xx W

PS I went to north for femara too.

Hi,

I have been on Letrozole about 6 weeks and am also stiff in the mornings. I keep wondering whether unexpected tiredness , mood swings and an increase in nightsweats are because of the drug. It is striking how little information there seems to be on the effects of oestrogen withdrawal. Last October I had to go off HRT in less than 3 weeks having been on it for 10 years and now any oestrogen left is being eradicated by Letrozole. Books on menopause are not much use as they recommend foods or supplements containing oestrogen to alleviate symptoms.
Any advice from people who have been down the Letrozole/Femara road before? I already walk almost daily, wear layers of clothes, keep bedroom cool, drink less,avoid caffeine and spicy food and at age 62 have had hot flushes and night sweats for past 5 months.

Active

Active

Examesthane girl here too. On it as part of a clinical trial. Am over 4 years on it now and have to admit that the joint pain has reduced considerably.

I will admit that during the first 12 maybe 18months I would wake in the morning feeling less like a 41/42 year old and more like a 90 year old. For other back related reasons from an old injury I started a pilates class and have to admit that a few month into pilates I noticed the achy pains first thing in the morning had reduced. I don't know if it was just time or Pilates but I probably feel more like 50 year old (than a 45 yr old!).

As for the night sweats, they have all but gone. However I have some triggers that bring them on like red wine and/or choclate especially in the evening.

Lindylu

Josephine!

How lovely to hear from you.

How are things now? I often think of you as you went through so much while you were having your treatment as well as getting lymphodema afterwards. I hope all is going well for you now.

Hugs

Kath

Hi all
Apologies Kathleen, I never replied. I'm good thanks except for the medication! So I stopped taking letrozole last week. I went crying to the GP about how old and decrepit I feel. She convinced me to try tamoxifen again and see if the aches and pains will lessen. No change yet but I suppose its too soon to tell. I also spoke to the breast care nurse and she said a huge percentage of women find letrozole very hard to take. She also said that symptoms seem to improve spontaneously after 18 months but that's exactly a year more for me! I'll give you all an update in a few weeks.
Jo

Hi Josephine,

Thanks for your news. I hope Tamoxifen will be easier for you.

Concerning stopping femara, I was told that it takes at least a month for these types of medication to fully leave the body as they trigger certain reactions and behaviour in the liver that take quite a while to stop. It's early days yet for you.

Take care

Kath