Hi there. I was on tamoxafen for few months for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer but had to come off it due extreme tiredness and generally not feeling good, i had a lumpetomy and lymph nodes removed+ 5 days of radiotherapy
I was advised to take 6 weeks break before starting letrazole which I started 2 weeks ago, initially I thought I would be ok on this but on the 4th day I had really bad indigestion and nausea and pain in my left side thought this would pass but 8 days later I still feel awful,no appetite whatsoever, i know you have to give medication time but how long do you have to put up with feeling like this ?? It’s making me feel miserable that 8 want to stop taking them
Has anyone else felt like this
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Hello Polly,
So sorry to read, you’re feeling so rough After taking Letrazole I think you’ll find this is quite common unfortunately I don’t think anyone can advise you whether to take it or not. I managed it for 3 1/2 years and it was a very miserable time for me. However I do have a friend Who tolerates it very well, but I know exactly how you’re feeling.
I do wish you well, hopefully it will get sorted out soon. Sorry not to have a more positive comment for you.
Health and happiness going forward. Please keep posting letting us know how you’re getting on.
Hugs Tili 
I started Letrozole three and a half months ago and suffered stomach pain and indigestion. This is beginning to happen less frequently now especially as I have given up taking Adcal-D3 which was making the symptoms worse. I am continuing with Letrozole because I know I am at risk of recurrence having had lymphnode clearance plus a lumpectomy with slightly less than 1mm clearance.
I think Letrozole side effects tend to change over the months. I have fewer problems with digestion but more intense pain in fingers, arms and legs which is coupled with my fibromyalgia.
I am sorry I cannot give you any reassurance about time scale as side effects depend on individual makeup but I hope you will give the tablets the chance to settle in your system. Refusing to continue is a big decision but if you feel you need to I suggest you consult your breast team. They might be able to prescribe an alternative or something which will alleviate the unpleasant symptoms. I was given omeprazole but found it had no effect on the stomach pain so I discontinued taking it.
Thank you so much for your comments on letrazole side effects x
I’ve been feeling so miserable on this drug
I was at the doctor’s yesterday, the only advise the doctor could give was to either stop it or give me anti sickness for the constant nausea, I have no appetite at all
Until I see the oncologist on the 8th October, I have other symptoms which I can put up with but not the nausea
I do know this is for my benefit as all my friends and family say
My auntie is on the same drug and has only hot flushes which she can tolerate
I will persevere with it as long as I can xx😘
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Hello polly62
Thank you for your post
It sounds like you’ve been having a difficult time lately with your hormone therapy treatment.
Everyone reacts differently to drugs. Some people will have more side effects than others, while others don’t experience any side effects at all. It’s not possible to predict how particular drugs will affect an individual.
Letrozole is a different type of hormone therapy from tamoxifen but like any drug can have side effects. For many people these improve within the first few months, however for some they may be more severe and continue longer term. Do contact your breast care nurse or GP about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. They may be able to offer something to help relieve the indigestion and nausea, and it is always worth getting new or persistent pain checked out.
Something else worth considering are different manufacturers. Letrozole is made by a number of different companies. Some of the tablets may have different additional ingredients (for example preservatives). This does not change the effectiveness of the treatment, but some people find some brands seem to suit them better than others. You could also ask your breast care nurse about this or talk with your pharmacist to check if they are able to access letrozole from a different manufacturer to see if this suits you better.
Experiencing fatigue (extreme tiredness) after receiving treatment for breast cancer is very common. It doesn’t always go away with rest or sleep and may affect you physically and emotionally. Many people find that they start to get their energy levels back as time passes after treatment, but for some fatigue can continue for months or sometimes years.
Other factors may also contribute to fatigue, such as: the emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis; altered sleep patterns; reduced activity and poor diet.
There are things you can try to help manage fatigue as discussed in the previous links. You may want to keep a diary to record when you feel most tired. This can help you plan activities you enjoy in the times when you have more energy. Trying to stay physically active can help. Eating a healthy well balanced diet is also important. The following tips for better sleep may also be helpful.
We also offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events. For more details about all of these services, please see the information on the link, or call our free helpline.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000. If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Wendy
Breast Care Nurse
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