I haven’t been here in a while, and just read over everyone’s status. I started Letrozole last Easter, and was on it for 7 months. At about 5 months is when I started to develop the muscle and joint pain. I asked my oncologist permission to go off of it (at 7 months in) to see if the joint and muscle pain was caused by the Letrozole, or if there was something else that needed addressing (I had been treated for Lyme disease in the past and wanted to make sure that was not recurring) After I came off of it, my joint pain got worse intstead of better, mostly in my knees and elbows, which I had never had before. My oncologist said my symptoms should have disappeared rather quickly, so now I am going to see a rheumatologist for my joint pain. I have been off the letrozole since October. I just can’t help but think that this drug is responsible for my pretty bad elbow and knee pain, it just seems too coincidental. My next step is, to see the rheumatologist, and restart AI treatment. but with the real deal. Femara instead of Letrozole. I remember someone on here saying that she had much better results with the actual Femara, instead of the Letrozole, which is generic.
I truly hope all of us find our comfort zone. Has anyone gone from Letrozole to Femara, with different results?
I was on letrozole for 4 1/2 years the pain was so debilitating that my onc switched me to Exenestane but I was allergic. I’ve been off bother for about 3 weeks. I will see Onc this week. I may just go back to the letrozole or try another. I do feel better much less pain after just that short period of time. My concern is the long term problem that might be caused by these drugs. I don’t think I could deal with feeling 80 years old for 10 years. The quality of life is so gone on these drugs. My hope is the discovery of a better option for women.
I have now been off the Letrozole since Oct, went off it with my oncoloigst’s permission because of side effects. I am seeing him next week, and will resume, but this time with the real deal, the Femara. I believe I saw someone on here say they had better luck with that. I agree, Judeworth, I am afraid to take it, and afraid not to take it. What are we supposed to do, it is a true dilemma.
I went on this medication three months after I stopped radiation. I had stage 3 breast cancer. I was on this medication for 5 months and experienced many of the side effects and thought it was normal and supposed to happen because it was listed. I went to the doctor and explained my situation to her, turns out I have stage 4 brain cancer. I didn’t know because the side effects of brain cancer are the same side effects for this medicine. If you experience any of this side effects, I highly suggest that you go to your doctor and get a scan.
My GP has just agreed to prescribe me Femara despite not being convinced it will make a difference. However having spoken to others they have had less side effects on the Femara than the generics.
Wasnt going to take them at all but saw on a hospital letter sent to GP only that I had multiple lesions and not just one like they told me. I will be having words at my next appointment next week. So I am now taking the tablets with this new knowledge
I am thinking of trying anastrozole only because tamoxafin has same side effects as letrozole. I have been in pain for 18 months thought it was from a fall not realizing it was the medication.