I didnt cope with the side effects of Anastrozole so Onc wants me to try Exemestane. Has anyone swapped these meds and found the Exemestane better? X
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I didnāt but my friend stopped Letrozole after a few months of treatment and went onto Exemestane instead and is still on it well over 3 years later - itās definitely better for her though not entirely side effects free . A couple of people in my support group have done this as well and stuck with the Exemestane . Xx
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I was on Letrozole for 15 months with horrible side effects had an 8 week break to see if it was this drug. I had been on Herceptin so had to see if it was side effects from this as well. I then started on Exemestane, I still have side effects but they are more tolerable than Letrozole. The joint pain is mainly morning or on very cold days, with movement especially walking it eases. The hot flushes (heat surge, like Iām on fire) still persist so Iām working with a menopause consultant to get something to help. Iāve tried two things already, Fezolinetant (veozah) which was privately prescribed and became cost prohibitive and then Oxybutynin which had its own side effects (headaches in certain brands, pharmacy kept swappingš), dry mouth especially at night. Fezolinetant worked really well but couldnāt keep up with the costs. There is a new drug in the pipeline called Elinzanetant which MHRA have approved but awaiting data from breast cancer patient trial for NICE to consider on the NHS.
There are options of non hormonal treatments to help with side effects. Lots of great information on this website, podcast and YouTube channel. They have a menopause symptom checker which you can download to discuss symptoms and options that may help.
Swapping to Exemestane may lessen or stop some side effects but I have found having this support and information really helpful. Itās definitely not a one size fits all.
You can ask for a menopause clinic referral or the charity above were offering a consultation online with a specialist.
I hope you find something that works for you.
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after three years on Anastrozole I changed to exemestane. I wasnāt sure at first but have stayed on it and am finding the brain fog, which was one of my main problems, is much improved. Good luck with it.
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Thankyou so much for your replies. I had hysterectomy and oopharectomy surgical menopause in 2007 so Im finding it really difficult to understand why I would have a strongly er& pr positive breast cancer. Im so reluctant to take hormone therapy without understanding the explanation.
The only link I have found is Thyroid T4 which it seems can create issues. In 2003 I had a highly overactive thyroid so radioactive iodine treatment and january 2004 bc. Then in 2025 T4 was up again on thyroxine meds and it followed with bc again! Coincidence maybe but interesting 
so messing about with hormones is worrying me! X
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