Starting Letrozole after 5 years of Tamoxifen

I was on tamoxifen for 5 years, which finished at the end of last year.

After 3 months off hormone therapy and 2 blood tests to check my status, I’m officially post-menopausal and I’m starting Letrozole now for another 5 years. My nurse sent me the latest guidance and studies that show that for my type of tumour there are large benefits/reduced recurrence risk to continue with hormone therapy for another 5 years, so I decided to go ahead.

My question is about the Letrozole side effects: I read all the posts talking about it, but they are about women taking hormone therapy for the first time. Anyone changed to it after 5 years on tamoxifen? Is your body used to oestrogen-blockers by now, and so will I have much fewer effects?

I know it’s a question of wait and see, everyone’s different, but I’d like to have some idea… my nurse said she didn’t know.

Hi ScarletBea

I’m sorry you haven’t received a response yet. If you would like to talk things through with someone in the mean time, our friendly nurses are available to lend a listening ear on our confidential Helpline.

You can reach them on freephone 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat 9am-1pm). Alternatively, you can get in touch with our Nurses in the Ask Our Nurses area of the Forum and they can respond to you online. 

Best wishes,

Chiara