Examestane joint pain & water retention

Going through breast cancer treatment Hormone therapy
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Hi,
I’m just 12m post surgery, and started taking Anastrozole in August last year, My oncologist took me off them in October for a 4-week break due to multi-joint pain, then started me on Exemestane in November.

Since then the joint pain has got worse and I have wonderfully swollen ankles & lower legs too. I’ve had x-rays, an MRI, tests for rheumatoid arthritis and am waiting for a video assessment for physio (!) but the pain is not going away and I don’t want to be taking Naproxen like sweeties along with my other meds. Rheumatology say I’ve got inflammatory joint pain, “a known side effect”…

It’s getting to the point where I’m seriously tempted to ask my GP to sign me off so I can stop worrying about the impact on my job and manage the pain better.

My oncology team want me to stay on Exemestane for another 12 months minimum before they’ll consider stopping AI altogether, but I’m wondering if it is worth trying another one, just to see if there’s any difference? Has anyone been on Anastrozole and then Exemestane and then tried another AI?

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Hi. Yes I have done all 4!

I was to have AIs for 5 years.

Started on Anastrazole (the standard round here), then was taken off after a few months because of SE’s and moved to Exemestane. SE’s not quite so bad but Onc moved me to Tamoxifen for a few months, then on to Letrozole which I managed for 3 years. For me, Letrozole was the best of the bad bunch, but others feel differently as are reaction to meds are all different. I did have to do a brand change with Letrozole - ACCORD was best for me

I have certainly noticed the difference after coming off ‘the pills’ - trouble is old age is creeping up on me!

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