Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi I had stage 2 and wle in December 2017 followed by 20 radiotherapy sessions. I was on letrazole from December until August and in that time was almost a cripple with pains in my joints and my eyes were all swollen and blood shot. I stopped letrazole for a few weeks and felt normal again and it was lovely. The oncologist changed me to exemestane and I still have side effects but nothing like as severe as on letrazole. I do however feel very tired a lot of the time and while I don't think I am depressed I am not full of the joys of spring. The oncologist did say if exemestane did not suit me he would change it to tamoxifen. I just wonder if you have side effects on one tablet if they are all going to affect you. My sister in law is taking letrazole and has no side effects at all. I am seriously thinking about stopping medication and getting some quality if life back but no one seems either able or willing to give any advice on this course of action. I understand how you feel. I was diagnosed after a routine mammogram and was fine and healthy them. Even after the op I was fine it's just this medication that's doing it. Try to keep going. I will be interested to know if you'd side effects improve with time.  Lots of hugs Madwoman (it really is a good description of me at present) ... View more

I was on letrazole from Dec 2017 for 8 months. In that time I became almost crippled with pains in my right knee and not able to put weight on my leg. Some days I had to use crutches to get about. My eyes were also extremely painful and swollen with the whites being all bloodshot. My GP kept prescribing drops for my eyes but never mentioned letrazole side effects. Eventually I asked them about side effects and they just advised me to contact the breast nurse. She told me to stop the tablets and arranged for me to see the oncologist. In the three weeks before I saw him the pain disappeared and my eyes returned to normal. I actually felt normal. I now take exemestane. My joints are still sore and stiff but not agonising like they were. My eyes however are still sore but again not as bad as they were on letrazole. I have seen the breast surgeon again for a check up and he insists that exemestane does not cause problems with eyes. I think I will suggest when I see him again he reads the messages in this forum. I cannot advise anything. I do not know what to do myself. Life is just miserable. It seems as if different drugs side effects are different for different people. My sister in-law is on letrazole and has no side effects at all. Is it worth taking these tablets. Who can tell me what difference it makes. ... View more

Hi I was on letrazole for 9 months. During that time some days I had to use crutches to get about. I was in agony with my right knee. I could not put any weight on my leg. Additionally my eyes were all swollen and bloodshot and seemed full of grit. The breast nurse told me to stop taking letrazole to see if there was any improvement and there was within days. I now take exemestane and apart from a bit of stiffness in my joints my aches and pains are tolerable. However my eyes are sore again but not as bad as with letrazole. It might be advisable to ask for a change.  Hoping things work out for you.    ... View more

Hi I spent a fortune in marks and spencers on bras that were supposed to be ideal for this purpose but found all really uncomfortable after the lumpectomy. I saw an advert in magazine for a firm called Chums and they advertised what is called a magic bra'. They were front fastening and at £10 each I thought they were worth a try. They are so comfy. They are ordered by dress size not cup sizes. Don't know how they do it but even with your breasts slightly different sizes they fit comfortably and still give good support. ... View more

Hi I understand where you are coming from. I eventually bought 'a magic bra' from an advert I saw in a magazine from a firm called Chums. They were front fastening and they are sold in dress sizes not cup sizes. When two breasts are not quite the same size they seem to somehow still fit you. They also give you the support you need. Also they were not expensive - £12 each. I am now 10 weeks post WLE and almost finished 20 sessions of radiotherapy and aithough my breast is red and tender from the treatment the bras are lovely and soft and do not rub. Wishing you well ... View more