I only use my small local independent pharmacy and unfortunately they will only supply what they can get.
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That’s a shame - this was what a BCN advised at our support group about a year ago but it seems to be getting harder all the time to get choice . Xx
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Hi, I am really sorry to hear about your diagnosis!
I’ve been on Abemaciclib for 2 years after I finished chemo and radiotherapy as a preventative measure but I finished my treatment in June this year so I am really worried about recurrence now. Hence, why I am doing everything possible to stay on Letrozole. It’s the only drug that keeps the cancer coming back at the moment.
I will look into the local anaesthetic injections and ask the rheumatologist next time about it.
Wishing you all the best with your upcoming procedure. Take care. Xxx
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I was on letrozol fo 8 months and because of joint stiffness and pain i could barely walk and ended up with a blood clot ,so was changed to anastrozole and the side effects were much better. Ask your dr to switch you to a different drug xx
Hi, just began Anastrozole this past weekend. Only 2 days in. So far so good. Crossing fingers no major side effects. Not sure how far you are into taking the Anastrozole, but curious if you have any joint pain or any other side effects. Happy to hear acupuncture helped with eliminating hot flashes I think I will try that.
@sunshine71 I started taking Anastrozole mid December and have had lots of joint stiffness and some muscle pain. Once hot flushes were sorted with the acupuncture I swapped taking tablet to morning which helped me sleep better. I have just had a week of Sun brand for first time and joint pain almost disappeared 
. Th e only trouble seems to be trying to get the brand that suits you consistently. Good luck
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I am new to posting but have wanted to tell my situation for a year. I have been so grateful to hear your stories and know I was not the only one going through hell with these awful drugs. I am from the USA and happened on this forum by accident. We have nothing like it here as far as I know. People are very secretive about their breast cancer. I am 74 and was diagnosed 2.5yrs ago with invasive dc. 25mm ER and HR2+ stage 2B nodes were clear. I refused radiation. I had been on HRT for 24 years which of course was ended. I went on 20mg Tam. At night I had the most debilitating cramps in my legs. Just fell out of bed and crawled. My onc, a man, said to go see a vein specialist. Hot drippy flashes day and night. So embarrassing. Just wanted to mention my weight gain. It was a tire around my mid section. I cut my rations and tripled my exercise routine and still kept gaining. Finally. changed onc, a female, and she cut dosage.18 mo on tam. Better but I wanted to try anastrozle. . After 6 mo on this drug the onc took me off of it. My fingers are crippled. I’m hoping it goes away. It’s been a month. Apparently this happens to a small percentage of users. Joint pain and stiffness added 15 years to my body. Could hardly walk if I sat for more than 45 minutes. Had to get out my car and stretch every hour. She is going to try letrozole next. But from what I read on this forum joint pain and sleepless is still the norm along with fatigue. I can’t believe I’m sleeping at night again. I can get out of a chair and not limp. My energy level is back to normal. Very addictive to feel such a life improvement. Still have flashes but they are warm, not hot. To all you ladies on these ghastly drugs, I hope the medical profession knows what they are doing. Treatment is so cookie cutter here in the States. Surgery, chemo and/or rad then estrogen suppressant, even if stage 0. I wonder what percentage of women stay on these drugs. 3% protection someone wrote? I will ask at my next appointment. Don’t think I will do another drug after listening to all of you wonderful ladies. Love all of you…Joyce
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Hi @pbdoll
I do feel that sometimes once the main treatment has finished we are just prescribed these ghastly meds, told we need to take them or the dreaded C will return and that we may have a few adverse SE.
It then seems you’re on your own, my oncologist called it aches & pains, believe me it’s more than that, endocrine nurse suggests seeking GP for pain medication (easier said than done) or a physio.
I walk the dog & do three gym classes a week. Sometimes in so much pain. But I won’t give up.
Sending hugs
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Yes my BCN service sent me a text saying sorry that you’ve got aches and pains as if it was nothing - then didn’t keep the phone appointment they made with me to discuss it ( though to be fair they are usually good) . The red mist descended - not sure if that was the drugs or just me xx
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I had awful muscle pain on letrozole, and I had to figure out for myself the cause. There were also the hot flashes and the random diarrhea. I had mentioned the pain to my onco. She didn’t mention letrozole, but she had me do a full body CT and talk to an ortho specialized in bone cancer. She was fixated on a bone metasisis. Anyway, when I did figure it out, I told her that I was stopping. I am 83 and I can’t see living my last years with that agony. Could hardly get up out of a chair or walk. I was on it for two years and I have been off it for 2 mos. Only just now beginning to feel better. Pain is not gone but lessened. I’m not going to try another brand. I figure they are all the same. Claire
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I started letrozole 5 years ago. In 2 years, from a fit body, I was in terrible pain and ready to crawl on the floor. I tried massage, acupuncture, supplements, met specialist, you name it, nothing worked until my oncologist told me to take 6 weeks break and start exemestane. I am in exemestane for 3 years and I need to continue because of node positive however, exemestane has been so much easier to my body and I can continue without any problem. I do yoga daily since before cancer diagnoses and I continue. If I was you, I would talk to the doctor to change the medication.
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I also have joint pain, but not as severe as some. I am experimenting with white willow bark, infused to make a (yucky tasting) tea. It has salicylic acid in it (the main ingredient in aspirin) which provides gentle pain relief without being harsh on the stomach. So far (4 days or so) I’ve noticed an improvement in joint pain and, consequently, sleep. I make 1/2 litre in the morning and reheat throughout the day. A little fresh ginger helps the taste.
Try a different brand. I’m on Gemara now and joint pains gone ! Give it 3-4 months to settle 
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Do you mean Femara, the original brand?
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Yes. There are several brands just try different. I swapped to this but you need to then get it specified on your prescription
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Hi Following a routine mammogram in September 2023, WLE in December 2023 for 6.6mm grade 11 lobular cancer, ER7 &, PR8, HER-2 negative plus DCIS and LCIS, resulting in no clear margins and SLNB requireded, had re-incision and three lymph nodes removed January 2024. Clear margins achieved and lymph nodes all clear. Underlying health conditions mostly hip joint and thumb joint pain (previously treated with steroid injections) and menopausal symptoms flared up big time after coming off HRT patches. after first surgery new aches and pains developed in my elbows and shoulders, along with heel pain. Dismissed as unrelated by my surgeon.
Then had five fractions radiotherapy in May 2024. My oncologist (a faceless voice on the phone) decided to prescribe Tamoxifen for 5 years. So far I have refused to take the Tamoxifen due to my body riddled with all manner of assorted aches and pains. I have now developed acute tendonitis which is preventing me from enjoying the outdoor activities I usually do. Reading everyone’s replies today places even more fear and worry into my thoughts. I can only hope I am doing the right thing not taking the Tamoxifen but I seriously could not tolerate increased or any new side effects following my treatment.
@wizbel although lots of people post about negative effects of Tamoxifen or Aromatase inhibitors, there will be many who don’t post and have few if any side effects.
Like all drugs we are individual and all react differently. If you already have aches and pains the drugs may or may not make them worse or they may stay the same. We all have to choose what is right for us.
For me, I have Letrozole and have lots of side effects and take other medications to help with them. Yes it’s does seem silly to take more tablets for the one, but the one is supposed to help prevent recurrence and that’s the most important for me. I was bilateral (both), two primary invasive tumours, one in each naughty boob. It’s not common to have two primary’s at the same time or within 6 months, less than 5% of all breast cancers.
We all have to do what is right for us. Take care.
Hi, thanks for getting back to me and for your valuable insights. I have MSK appointment early December for my acute tendonitis so hopefully will get some useful exercises from my physio and meanwhile try to remain positive, it’s hard when both inactivity and activity cause pain to flare up.
Seriously though, considering starting the Tamoxifen to coincide with Christmas does not appeal…
Take care
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