I have been to chat rooms for the past nine years and am grateful for all the input each of you have given. I haven’t responded before now because I just don’t do chat rooms. So I decided to respond this time because I am making a big decision of possibly stopping letrazole. I'm 70 year old at this time. I was diagnosed in 2012 with estrogen receptive breast cancer. I had a left mastectomy with it being stage 1 and no recommended treatment following surgery. In 2016, 5 months before the five year mark, I developed cancer on the same side which became stage 3 and had gone into the muscle. Radiation followed. They put me one arimidex and after 3 months I stopped it because I could no longer remember how to do things in my work program (I was still working) and if I hadn’t had GPS I would not have remembered how to get to clients homes and back. Some 3 hours away. I tend to do a lot of research so read Dr. David Servan’s book, “Anti Cancer a new way of life”. He had been diagnosed with radical brain tumor and treatment twice and was told he had six months to live. He wasn't ready to die, as he put it, and researched ways to help himself. He lived for 20 years more. In 2018, I was diagnosed with metastases breast cancer of C5-C6 cervical cancer outside the spine. I had radiation and was put on Letrazole. Nothing more can be done.
On letrazole, the side effects started early. All of the ones that you all have mentioned. Yes I felt like the bottoms of my feet were like cardboard (someone said for them it felt like Dutch wooden shoes). The exacerbation to my joints was so bad that I could hardly walk or use my arms (shoulder pain). I’ve been on plant based diet for some time. I take supplements. I see integrative doctor who does acupuncture. He has kept me going pretty well until this 2nd year of letrazole. My oncologist told me that I’m not killing myself with letrazole but it will affect my quality of life. He told me to stop it until 9-4-20 at which time I have another MRI and CAT scan. It has only been 7 days and already the cardboard feeling has left, my joints are less painful, I can get up out of the chair and walk again. Nausea diminishing along with other side effects. I am considering stopping. I have been reading a book and saw youtube by Dr. Stephen Jenkinson on “Die Wise A manifesto for sanity and soul.” Steven Levine wrote book, “One Year To Live” which is very helpful too. A friend asked me a question recently, “Is everything better than death? I am contemplating this question but I don’t believe self imposed suffering is better for me. Death for me is (and I’ve meditated on death) like a compassionate being taking us back into their arms. I’ve written a manual for family and friends, called “transition from life to death, you can be prepared. These are my thoughts, take what you want and leave the rest. Best to you in your journey. Peace.
