Dear ladies,
After finishing my 5 years course of Tamoxifen and, even although I did not have my periods since my third chemo cycle, I wasn’t clearly postmenopausal. Around 3 or 4 months ago, I underwent a profylactic oophorectomy to become menopausal and be able to go on to Letrazole. Now, I got the Letrazole supplies and … I haven’t yet started, I am blocked. I am terrified about the osteoporosis problems. My onco has ordered a bone scan density for me but, still, I’m petrified, shouldn’t I be taking zometa or some medication to avoid to develop osteoporosis?. I am also concerned about the fatigue, I am already experiencing chronic fatigue and I would like to know how you deal with this.
x
Hello - I took letrozole for 18 months, and have had absolutely no bone problems, and I’ve had bone scans to confirm this. I do take calcium every day so bone problems shouldn’t occur… I’ve now been changed to anastrozole cos the hot flushes were a bit grim (after 40-odd years of oestrogen in one form or another!!!) and I had brain fuddle. So now I feel like e real person again, just a bit of joint stiffness which goes away if i dance about under a warm shower in the mornings!
I think ringing your breast nurse would be helpful and put your mind at rest, as she will know your full medical history and explain things for you. I don’t imagine delaying starting the letrozole for a few days will do any harm - these are long-term drugs, and I did have to have a 2 week break when I changed drugs and I’m absolutely fine. The medics won’t recommend anything that harms us, they just don’t explain it properly sometimes, and of course we all think of the important questions when we get home…
All the best
grumpy
I’ve been on Letrazole for nearly a year, and althought I was stiff to start with, that’s worn off mostly. I had inreased hot flushes, but they’ve settled down. My GP did a bone scan first, discovered I had osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis) so they’ve put me on calcium. I rather gathered that if the bone scan had been OK, they wouldn’t have…
the long term benefits of the drug are huge, so I’m taking the risk. I’ve been told that after 5 years, if they still think I need medication, they’ll switch me to Tamoxifen or something similar that doesn’t have those side effects…
I can only suggest to chat your concerns through with your Breast Care Nurse or oncologist or GP… whoever is friendliest - or ring the helpline here…
Go well… Jane
I am in year 4 of 5 years of Letrozole, had 2 bone density scans and all okay, I just try to eat healthily.
Hazel
My hospital prescribes calcium tablets alongside letrozole and I also try to introduce more into my diet on a daily basis. My baseline DEXA scan taken just before I started letrozole was fine, as was a further routine one 2 years later.
Fatigue has been a side effect for me, but, as with so many of these treatments and medications, side-effects vary enormously from person to person. I have had to accept that for the period of time I remain on letrozole I am not able to do as much as I could previously. Not an easy journey to accpetance but I am getting there.
Good advice above to talk to your Breast Care Nurse. At the end of the day you will have to balance your fear of side effects with your belief (or otherwise) in the efficacy of the drug.
Best wishes.
I took Letrazole for 5 years with just a bit of stiffness and no other side effects. Had 3 bone density scans - no issues. I exercised and exercise regularly.