Switching from Letrozole to Exemestane

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Living with breast cancer
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Hi,

After 5 months of taking Letrozole it seems as if I am experiencing excruciating bone pain as a side effect. My oncologist has switched me to Exemestane which I started today. Does anyone have experience of switching from Letrozole to Exemestane they can share? Thank you.

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Hi i switched from Anastrozole to Exemestane a couple of months ago. The Anastrozole gave me really high blood pressure. So far the Exemestane isn’t giving me any side effects so Im much happier on it. Its early days I guess but so far so good. Xx

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@susynight Thanks and all the best.

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My friend stopped Letrozole after a few months due to excessive joint pains and stiffness - particularly in her hands and fingers but has been on Exemestane for over 3 years now . She isn’t entirely symptom free but she says it’s definitely manageable and seems a lot happier . Xx

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@JoanneN my oncologist warned me that I may continue to experience side effects but hopefully to a lesser degree than on Letrozole. My fingers are crossed. Thanks.

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I hope you feel better on it too xx

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Hi Joanne

I was on Letrozole for 4 mths but due to chronic arthritic pain in hands and wrists, which I had before cancer diagnosis, I have been switched to Exemestane, I have been on it now for 3 mths and I am still getting the athritic pain, I feel like giving up, but maybe I should persevere a bit longer with the Exemestane. Do you know how long it was before the Exemestane “kicked in” and made some improvement to her condition?

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Hello @243pixie

My friend had been on HRT for stiffness in her hands which was affecting her ability to do her but had to stop that when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was on Letrozole for about 6 months before stopping and I think they allowed her a break before she started Exemestane and her pain and stiffness improved a lot during that time . Since being on Exemestane she is much better generally than on Letrozole - she is stiff in the mornings but that improves with moving and she gets episodes when it’s worse ( though not as bad as when on Letrozole ) but they don’t last . Some others in my support group have also changed to Exemestane - the feeling I get is that again it’s not problem free but better than alternatives though some people notice that their side effects are much less or worse depending on the brand of Letrozole or Anastrozole that they’re taking. Xx

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Thanks for sharing @JoanneN.

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Thank you Joanne that was most helpful. From 243pixie

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Hi, how are you finding exemestane? I was on Letrozole but it made my osteoarthritis in my knees and hands worse so they changed it to Anastrozol but I am getting tendon pain below my thumb and in my wrist in my dominant hand so thinking of changing to exemestane. The oncologist mentioned Tamoxifen but I believe it increases the chance of blood clots and as I had A-fib Zi think that is a no. Have you had any side effects?

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Hi it was great to begin with but I’ve gradually got really bad hand and arm pain but I do have bad arthritis. BCN said have 4 weeks break to see if symptoms settle. Im on 3rd week off it and symptoms are no better so it possibly isnt the Extremesene thats causing it. I may well go back on it since it seemed much better than the Anastrozole.

Hope you get sorted with one that suits you better. Xx

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