Since taking hormone therapy for breast cancer, my cholesterol went up 3 points. My GP wants to put me on statins but having reduced it by 1.16 in the last three months, feel like I can reduce it further. I really don’t want to start statins, as I have heard that you are then on them for life. I’m also struggling with joint pain and my oncologist and I are trying to smooth that out. So I really don’t want to introduce another tablet in case there are side effects from that also And then I won’t know which one is causing the pain.
Has anyone experienced anything similar?
1 Like
Hi @splog I was out on 20mg atorvastatin a long time ago because of congenitally high “cholesterol”. After being on Letrozole for 18 months, the GP doubled the dose of the statin, which meant an increase in SE from the statin. In fact, it is not cholesterol per se that it is the problem, your body makes cholesterol as every cell in your body needs it. If you didn’t have cholesterol, you would die pretty quickly. On top of that, the organ that uses the most cholesterol is the brain, so it is pretty important stuff. When medics talk about controlling cholesterol, what they mean is controlling the lipoproteins that move cholesterol around the body. There are HDLs, LDLs, VLDLs and triglycerides in the picture. LDLs have been framed as the bad guys and that is what statins are there to reduce. It is quite controversial now as the statin protocol is based largely on research from the 70s, which concluded that fat is the big problem but which has now been shown not to be the case. Sugar is the baddie apparently. Anyway, to answer your question re taking AET and a statin, my situation is now that I want to give up or at least reduce the statin because of its impact on my brain health but in order to do that, I need to consider giving up Letrozole. I was Grade 1, Stage 1 with no lymph involvement and no LVI (can’t get a better bunch of scores than that) so after 18 months or more of taking an AI, I am ready to (nervously) stop. Statins are the most prescribed drug in the world, closely followed by blood pressure drugs, they’re dished out like candy IMO. If you can control “cholesterol” without them, I would but AS ALWAYS discuss with your medical team before making a decision.
3 Likes
@splog having managed to keep my cholesterol level borderline, taking Anastrozole increased it 3 points so am taking 20mg atorvastatin. As I was already getting stiff joints and muscle cramps, I haven’t noticed any difference with the statin.
3 Likes
Hi
After years of my cholesterol being OK, it’s shot up because I’ve been living on adrenaline and eating very badly following my husband’s long illness/death.
I refused statins as I’d had them before and they hurt. So you do not have to stay on them. Infact, it was a GP who said he’d not take them when my blood counts were reduced. I was not going back on them with all the aches and pains that Anastrazole give me.
My current GP suggested that I had a chat to my practice pharmacist as there are alternatives to statins. I have started to take a daily tablet that reduces the absorption of cholesterol. In my case; Ezetimibe.
No aches and pains as side effects but you can have tummy ache, trump more or have diarrhoea. I have none of these - well, I might be a bit parpier 
but I’ve re-hauled my diet at the same time.
I will come off them when the blood tests show normal levels.
Have a chat with your GP about statin alternatives, being clear on the reasons why you don’t want them.
Good luck!
2 Likes
I have recently been told the same, after nearly 1 year on letrozole my cholesterol has gone above my normal levels, after talking to my GP they have decided to put me on a low dose of just 10mg of statins and to monitor me thereafter. I understand it is a known side effect of letrozole and possibly other medications
I am not unhappy about having statins as I believe the wider medical profession feel /advise that everyone over 50 would be helped by these tablets and should be on min 20mg dose.
So far have felt no adverse issues above those that the Letrozole had already given me ie joint pain. I take mine before bed.
2 Likes
Thank you so much for sharing… Im sad to hear about your husband. My GP didn’t offer an alternative… I explained that I was already aching from the Anastrozole and didn’t want to add to it. She had agreed to give me 6 months to turn things around so Im eating sensibly… my go to has always been crisps… I miss them so much. I dont miss cakes or biscuits yet.
I will look further into the drug you mention.
Thanks again… I also wish you luck.
xAnne
2 Likes
Thanks for taking the time to help me. Ivectaken everything on board. Ive also learnt some interesting things.
Thank you x
1 Like
Hi my tip for avoiding statins and reducing your cholesterol, start every meal with - glass of cooled cider vinegar and honey[ cap ful of cider vinegar and tsp honey in hot water, drink when warm. Cider vinegar is alkaline and reduces the acidity in your system. Eating a mediterranean diet, plenty of fruit - not too much of the citrus and veg. getting to bed before 10.30 - rising before 6am.
A proper calcium with magnesium combination supplement, Avoid Adcal - which is the preferred prescribed tablet. D3 with at least 5000 iu.
My CHolesterol is 5 or under, with the good ‘DL’ highest and has been so for over 20 years. i have been through bc and have Allergies, Not sure if you are on any Abemaciclib tablets yet… Letrozole constipates you and Abemaciclib does the opposite but 6 hours between helps balance. ie Abemaci 8 am 2 pm Letrozole 8 pm Abema, works. hope this helps Moonsox xxx
1 Like
Thank you so much for your very informative reply. I can’t work out how to reply to everyone separately, so I’d like to think everyone who has replied to my post. It’s all very helpful, and I will drill down into the different suggestions… Thanks again x
If anyone does have a weakness for biscuits. Change to shortbread - not shortcake biscuits. They are often in packets with a tartan pattern on. They are not packed full of the additives and nasties that other biscuits have. They are hardly any different ingredient-wise from what you’d make yourself at home.
I changed to them a couple of months ago after I started following a woman on Instagram who looks at all the ingredients in so-called healthy foods or everyday basics and snacks and offers much better alternatives in the same supermarket; usually on the same shelf.
I buy shortbread fingers from Aldi or Lidl. Cheap as chips (air fried with skin on obviously!). TBH they feel like a treat compared to biscuits as feel nicer in my mouth and tastier, and I find I only do ever have two at a time with my 3pm cuppa.
Christmas boxes (not tins) of shortbread can be cheaper £ per 100g 
1 Like
Update!
After a well iffy bout of diarrhoea (sorry!!) for a few days over the weekend and a re-emergeance of my gastro reflex disease symptoms, I realise I had developed every commonly listed side effect going from Ezetimibe.
Got a GPs appointment yesterday, had a chat and I’ve stopped them. Bloods booked at the surgery for early December to see where my cholesterol levels are and we’ll take it from there.
Today, I had the bloods done at the hospital’s oncology unit for my final Zometa infusion 
My practice have picked the results up already. My cholesterol is down from an overall 6.8 to 5. That’s in 7 weeks 
Booked an appointment for a GP call to follow-up. Hoping I can get away without anything 
Anyway - proof that cholesterol absorption blocking tablets work and PDQ too! Just unfortunate that I suffered on the back of them.
Although there is a silver lining, I’ve dropped two kilos and I’ve got a big posh afternoon out on Saturday - slinky clothes will be worn 
2 Likes