I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2023. I had a lumpectomy and was prescribed Letrozole. In the beginning I had some muscle pains, headaches and fatigue. Now I have brain fog, I feel like I’m on another planet half of the time. I suffer with depression and anxiety anyway and this is making it worse. I would love to hear from others with similar problems. Thank you
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I’m not having the same menopause symptoms as you as I have stayed on HRT my choice but I hear you because I had the worst menopause EVER!!! I 58 and started in peri menopause at 42 and I was still having breakfast through bleeding on my last coil this year so its a hell of a bloody journey literally.
I’ve just had a double mastectomy 2 weeks post surgery and I’m waiting for pathology results so bit of a scarey time tbh.
I’m hear for you if you need a chat im just at home recovering. Xxx
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Break through* not breakfast 
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If you haven’t already please speak to your BCN or Oncologist for advice . They might recommend a break to see if things improve or a change of medication . Also as there has been a change in your symptoms - have you been given a different brand at all as this may be aggravating your symptoms . I’m not in the same boat but I did experience brain fog for a few weeks after starting treatment and also during episodes of fatigue that I’ve suffered with over the years for various reasons and I know how debilitating and unpleasant it can be. Sending love xx
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I’m a few years ahead of you - but I came off letrozole as my joint pains wer so bad. I’m on estamaxazane & better - although bit of fog but is this the chemo?
Have the fatigue a bit but thats the low oestrogen and I’d prefer that to the risk of ca coming back. I’m just living with it as the change from Letrozole was an improvement - talk to your oncologist? Hope that helps?
X
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I’m in a complete mess! I haven’t managed to talk to anyone yet, I want to say it’s because of Christmas and lots of meet ups with friends and family but I know that’s not the whole truth. I suffer with depression and anxiety and have done for years. I am in the deepest depression and trying to pull myself out but it’s not working. I’ve been on Letrozole for 2 years and haven’t questioned it because I know I’m taking it to hopefully stop my cancer coming back. For a while now I’ve been having memory problems, if I’m having a conversation I realise that I can’t remember words I wanted to say. This can be a side effect of Letrozole but I’m thinking what if it isn’t that and it’s actually something else. I’m so scared, I don’t know what to do. Has anyone else had this while taking Letrozole?
Things are so tough at the moment, not doing well at all. The slightest thing has me thinking that the cancer has come back, it’s getting ridiculous.
I had a whole load of blood tests done a few months ago. In the past I’ve always panicked about getting the results, convinced that something bad would come up. I worked hard at changing my thought patterns and was managing it to a point. Then last week they said that I needed to get the thyroid test redone. The nurse who did it said she didn’t understand why they wanted it repeated as the previous one was normal.
Then today I got a message saying that I had been placed on the doctor’s waiting list for ‘recent test’ results and should be seen in 6 to 8 weeks. Now I have to wait all that time before I see the doctor. I’m trying to convince myself that they would want to see me sooner if it was urgent but I’m just so depressed and so scared that cancer has come back.
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Hi @cally53
So sorry that you’re struggling so much to begin with see if you can get some clarification about your your thyroid result - if it’s normal why do they want to repeat it ? If your surgery can’t help then maybe call your BCN who should be able to access your results.
Second - anyone can have an out of range thyroid result . I had one years ago before I got cancer they repeated it at least 6 weeks later and it came back as normal . My GP at the time said it can happen and that I had probably had a virus ( I had originally gone because I had a swollen knee so he decided to get blood tests) and that had caused it but couldn’t say for sure.
One reason to wait before they repeat it is that if it is just a bit out of range they have to give it chance to normalise - then if it’s still out of range next time they might be looking to investigate and there’s nothing to say that any change would be related to cancer as thyroid function changes with age anyway.
I’m going to come clean now and tell you that I abandoned hormone therapy after about 5 months due to a wide range of side effects low predicted benefit and fears about how it would affect my pre - existing medical conditions. I feel it would be dishonest of me not to tell you that but I don’t want to encourage you to stop as you have kept going with it for 2 years now and obviously feel strongly about it’s benefit . However if you feel it’s further impacted your mental health then I think you should consider reporting this because other people have been affected in this way and they might want to consider giving you a break from it ( people do this sometimes for holidays / events / to see if a perceived side effects improves ) with the agreement of their Oncologist or team. There might be a possibility of trying a different drug as well .
Well done e for trying to control your thoughts - I haven’t been for a while now and unfortunately this week it’s cancelled due to bad weather but I sometimes attend a mindfulness class and find it helpful . I now realised until I started going there how destructive thoughts can be considering that they aren’t real . Don’t give up trying Cally .
I also think that you might benefit from talking it all through to the Nurses on the Helpline here on 0808 800 6000 9am to 4pm tomorrow 9am to 1pm Saturday .
Sending love xx