Hello ladies-it has been months since I’ve posted, probably because I know where I stand and am not having to make any decisions at the moment (I arrived on this forum last August after my Grade 2 diagnosis) not knowing anything about anything. But now that I am much more informed, I’ve weened myself away from the forum only to be able to have a break from “thinking” about my breast cancer on a daily basis and live my life, etc.
However, I wanted to share some good news with you. I have been on Letrozole since October, and whilst I was supposed to have a mastectomy last November (that was the plan)-I decided to defer surgery and give Letrozole a chance to shrink my cancer. I had read about another woman’s experience on Letrozole-she was on it for 15 months and her cancer shrunk by 50%.
I’ve just had my 2nd MRI (post Letrozole) & my cancer continues to shrink (it is less enhanced on MRI)-my surgeon is very happy with how I am responding & is happy for me to continue on Letrozole to see how much further is shrinks. At the point I stop responding to it, she will then opt for a lumectomy (if that’s what I want) and if she gets clear margins, great, and if not, then it’s onto a mastectomy, but at least she sees there is a point in going for lumpectomy first (if I do want to keep my breast)-which I do.
I am sharing this with you because despite all of the side effects that many women experience-Letrozole does do it’s job (in shrinking estrogen positive cancer) & it’s a matter of considering both the pros and cons of the drug.
And re-the “brand” debate…I have been on more than one brand, and frankly, don’t notice a difference.
It’s really important to exercise, to stretch, and to eat well-to help the drug to help *you*. My diet has become so healthy since January-I have cut out all sugar from my diet, except for the very rare glass of wine (I’ve had no more than 8 drinks since January). Sugar feeds breast cancer. I eat a lot of nuts, seeds (linseed, flax seed, pomegranate seeds) and I am sure all this is helping the drug along:).
If Letrozole allows me the choice between a lumpectomy and mastectomy then I am more than happy to tolerate the side effects for as long as necessary. Maybe I’ve just been lucky but I don’t feel too bad on it. Then again, I forget what “normal” feels like anyways!
xxxx