Hi team!I’ve been on letrozole for 2.5 years, and am noticing the aches and pains and vg atrophy more now, so my oncologist has prescribed tamoxifen. She says it’s safe to change but I’m still a bit nervous about it - will it be as effective in keeping the cancer away, and will I get more side effects …. Has anyone else made this transition and was it better for you? Cheers xx

Hi @Halla, while we wait for other members to share their experience about transition of medications, I thought I would provide BCNA's resources related to Hormone Blocking Therapy (You may have already accessed):Hormone-blocking therapy for early breast cancer Ask the Expert: Managing side effects of hormone blocking treatment with Dr Michelle White Hormone therapy and breast cancer

Yes the body has adjusted and settled on Tamoxifen I used to take at lunchtime but now settled to 7.30pm

Hi @Halla Just saw this, I know it’s a bit late but can relate! I was on letrozole for only a few months….had terrible aches and pains. Really impacted my quality of life. Have changed to tamoxifen and have been on it a couple of years now. I have found it to be much easier to take, with virtually no side effects.Big phew!Caz x

Hi @Halla - I swapped from Letrozole to Exemestane & then to Anastrozole - so Tamoxifen is the only AI that I HAVEN'T tried .... so I can't comment on it, in particular. Hopefully your side effects will lessen ..... Hopefully others who've had your transition will jump on soon & comment xx

@Halla That question is loaded in that we are all different in the way our bodies react to treatment and AIs.How many years has the Oncologist suggested for AIs?I started on Tamoxifen and Zoladex then moved to Letrozole, Aromasin and back to Tamoxifen. For me, Tamoxifen is easy now - the body has adjusted. I look forward to reaching the 10 year mark. It's a routine that I have settled into but thankfully it has an end date!Time of day that you take it can help with regulating and acceptance. Take care

Changing from letrozole to tamoxifen

Mez_BCNA
Community Manager
2 years ago
Hi @Halla, while we wait for other members to share their experience about transition of medications, I thought I would provide BCNA's resources related to Hormone Blocking Therapy (You may have already accessed):
Hormone-blocking therapy for early breast cancer

Ask the Expert: Managing side effects of hormone blocking treatment with Dr Michelle White

Hormone therapy and breast cancer
arpie
Member
2 years ago
Hi @Halla - I swapped from Letrozole to Exemestane & then to Anastrozole - so Tamoxifen is the only AI that I HAVEN'T tried .... so I can't comment on it, in particular.

Hopefully your side effects will lessen .....

Hopefully others who've had your transition will jump on soon & comment xx
Halla
Member
2 years ago
Thanks @arpie
iserbrown
Member
2 years ago
@Halla
That question is loaded in that we are all different in the way our bodies react to treatment and AIs.
How many years has the Oncologist suggested for AIs?
I started on Tamoxifen and Zoladex then moved to Letrozole, Aromasin and back to Tamoxifen. For me, Tamoxifen is easy now - the body has adjusted. I look forward to reaching the 10 year mark. It's a routine that I have settled into but thankfully it has an end date!
Time of day that you take it can help with regulating and acceptance.
Take care
Rdc2022
Member
2 years ago
@iserbrown, would you please elaborate on point about time of day you take medication? Thank you
Halla
Member
2 years ago
Thanks @iserbrown! So did you notice any difference between the AIs and tamoxifen?
Halla
Member
2 years ago
I still haven’t swapped over because I read on here that you shouldn’t take tamoxifen with Prozac. I asked the oncologist about it and she said “oops”!! She hadn’t checked my other meds that I’ve been on for 20 years. Which doesn’t really inspire confidence.

So now I have to change antidepressants b4 I change cancer drugs. And my GP is retired and now I have a new young one who has no idea how to transition me to a new one so I need to see a psychiatrist. Now waiting for referral for that. Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a GP in north west melbourne?
iserbrown
Member
2 years ago
Yes the body has adjusted and settled on Tamoxifen
I used to take at lunchtime but now settled to 7.30pm
Caz1
Member
2 years ago
Hi @Halla Just saw this, I know it’s a bit late but can relate! I was on letrozole for only a few months….had terrible aches and pains. Really impacted my quality of life. Have changed to tamoxifen and have been on it a couple of years now. I have found it to be much easier to take, with virtually no side effects.
Big phew!
Caz x
Halla
Member
2 years ago
Thanks @Caz1 I still haven’t changed over, so that’s motivating to know!