Tamoxifen verses Letrazole ?

Public Archive
1

Hi I wonder if anyone has any advice that will put my mind at rest. I am Her2 positive and about to start hormone therapy. I am borderline post menopausal so have more or less been given the choice of Tamoxifen or Letrazole. I have read somewhere that Her2 can reduce the effectivness of Tamoxifen? I understand that there are side effects with both. I would love to hear your experiences. x

2

I took Letrozole for around nine months - three before surgery and, during this period, my tumour shrunk sufficiently that the proposed surgery was less radical. However, I found the major side effect (for me) was vaginal dryness. When I mentioned this to my oncologist he suggested a change to Tamoxifen purely because with that drug I could also be treated with a locally applied oestrogen cream to relieve the symptoms of dryness. I am post-menopausal but still want to have a ‘comfortable’ sex-life (lol).

We all react to these drugs in different ways…so for you, it may mean… ‘suck it and see’. Letrozole may be great for you…

Good luck with whatever you choose.

3

Thanks Alex G I am so confused as to which would be the better option in terms of reoccurance but obviously dont want side effects I dont need!!

4

Bumping this for you.

Lynn

5

Hi, just happened to spot this thread.

Have been on Letrozole for approximately 16 months now. When I was initially given my treatment plan I was originally told I would be on Tamoxifen, but after finishing all my other treatment I was told it would be Letrozole. When I asked why - my Oncologist told me that it was a far superior drug.

So that was good enough for me! Had a lot of aches and pains in the legs for the first few months, which eased off in the warmer weather, but starting to flare up again as the weather is cooling down. Oh yeah, and the weight gain … but I think Tamoxifen is just as unkind in that respect too.

All in all, a small price to pay. xJacqx

6

Hi Jacq
Thanks for the comment can I just ask are you Her2? x

7

I am borderline post menopausal too, but my onc suggested that I start on Tamoxifen and change to Letrozole later after my next lot of blood tests. I am only on my second month of Tamoxifen, but so far have noticed no side efects other than continued hot flushes (they started during chemo).
I think it is like chemo though … each on of us is different and the treatment effects us in different ways.

Jacqui

8

Thanks Jaqui
I think I will ring and try to speak to onc on Monday to put my mind at rest. x