Started Letrozole in October ‘22 so have been taking it for 10 months with a 6 week break in the Spring whilst considering Tamoxifen for VA (nope, no thanks). Was crippled by fatigue from Christmas to the break but I put it down as a post-rads thing. It went during the break (oh happy happy days!). The fatigue has crept up again so must be down to Letrozole.
Simple question for women who have been on Letrozole for more than a year and who’ve been plagued by fatigue at any stage - does it get better over time?
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Hi Tigress, I think everyone is different. I have been on Letrozole for 3 and a half years now and the fatigue gets me everyday. However I am 72 so maybe it is because I am getting older. I find I need to nap every afternoon or I am asleep most of the evening. I find if I am out and about all day the next
day I am so very tired. However being so tired is a small price to pay if the Letrozole is keeping me alive. Don’t know how old you are but if you have a young family or are working I really feel for you, at least being retired I can nap when I feel the need. You take care.
Hiya,
Having tried both aromatase for the first BC treatment in 2011 and adjuvant therapies second time around this year and been crippled by both forms I decided not to take anything. The risk of BC. returning for me was 4% using hormone therapy and having stopped it the first time after 3 months after losing my mobility I went on for 12 years before it returned which I felt was a good innings given I had a much better quality of life with out any hormone therapy. I tried adjuvant therapy - Tamoxifen when the BC returned this year, had a mastectomy this time after I’d had spinal surgery two months previously, was crippled again and stopped taking it. I am still extremely fatigued and will probably be even more so after more surgery in September. You could argue it’s the successive surgeries causing fatigue rather than the hormone therapy but I knew it was the Tamoxifen. I have to be honest I don’t know about letrozole. I am to have biphosphonate injections for bone strengthening and don’t know how this will go yet either. However, it’s personal choice like the other lady has said, she feels the side effects are worth an extended life…for me personally, I’d rather a ‘quality of life’ which I can enjoy with my family and friends and I hope to return to than just merely existing continually exhausted. I hope you find the right balance for you and enjoy living 
Hi @sunshine21 I’m 67, soon to be 68. I don’t think it can be put down to age as I rushed around with no ill effects in the Spring when I was on a break from Letrozole. To be honest, I feel I’m quite lucky as I don’t have any joint pain or mobility issues as so many seem to on AIs. I’ll keep plugging on and see. Wishing you all the best for your continuing treatment.
Thanks @Brightside55 I can well understand your position and I know for a fact that if I could go for 12 years without recurrence, I’d stop Letrozole this moment too. Trouble is, it’s impossible to know. My plan is to get past the three year mark, as the third year is apparently the most common for recurrence, and take a view. Another two years of brain fog and fatigue isn’t appealing but no one said having cancer is easy. Good luck for your surgery and recovery.