Good evening ladies...those on Letrozole or other meds that cause muscle and joint pain. What exercise have you found helps. Thank you xx

From my experience I would say like @Sister, any movement seems to help at the time but those effects wear off quickly if you sit down for a while. I find a walk first thing in the morning helps and then just generally keeping moving throughout the day as much as possible.I also think a strengthening program of resistance and weights can help to support your joints. This definitely reduces pain. Keeping as flexible as possible with stretches/yoga type of exercise is also very beneficial. Letrozole seemed to cause swelling and therefore joint stiffness for me. I think movement can help to reduce the swelling making you more comfortable but it needs to be consistent. It can be a bit of a vicious circle if the pain stops you moving which I had a lot of in the last 6 months.@Romla exercise is so important for general, emotional and mental health as you say. When I can’t do it my quality of life suffers. I am enjoying being fully active again at the moment and am the most content I have been in my whole (almost) 6 years since diagnosis. The key is to find exercise that you enjoy.

@Hendrix I have been on Letrozole since 8/17.I have found walking daily for an hour sometimes two a big help.It was hard initially as I was not an exerciser and where I live is not flat. I also woke up stiff like I was 90 every morning and did have bone/ joint pain for a few months whilst walking but found I could walk thru it.I walked as I was terrified by what I had read about hormone therapy but knew I had to take it.I would say after a few months my bone/ joint issues eased considerably and am coping ok with Letrozole now.I also found a local gentle stretch and balance class designed for older people twice per week very helpful.My medical oncologist also suggested Krill oil for joint pain which have taken daily since the start but no idea if it’s helped but unwilling to stop it.In additionprioir to breast cancer I was osteoporotic and had had a fracture.Letrozole thins bones so I also started 6 monthly Prolia injections.Please be aware I did not have chemotherapy which I believe creates further bone issues.I say this as it may take longer for your body to adapt to Letrozole if you have had chemo. I am also 65 and had already been through menopause.Re walking .I don’t like silence so walk listening to music on my phone.I find walking gives me thinking time and with the music I forget I am exercising.I believe walking helps with my mood and also sleeping.Re Letrozole imo not all brands of generic Letrozole react the same on my body.I switched to a Chemist King brand for 3 months as was $12 cheaper and found myself feeling quite low.I switched to Sandoz brand from Chemist Warehouse and things are noticeable better.I had read the difference between brands is the coatings /fillers and from my point of view I believe there is something to this.There is much chat about it online.Finally I think exercise of any kind is important for our health mentally , emotionally and physically..I think I have proven that to myself.

Any exercise is good @Hendrix whether it be going for a walk , swimming or gym workout etc. You just have to find what works for you. For me going to the gym/pilates at least 3 times a week keeps me moving. It is unfortunately only a short term fix in the mobility stakes because as @Sister said once i stop and sit down everything seizes up again. Now that the weather is turning cooler I'm finding that my body is seizing up more in the morning so that means i need to do my stretching/massage ball routine everyday not just as a warm up for gym. If your body has tendencies towards osteoporosis weight bearing activities are good and you can do a lot of those at home with hand weights. I just find I'm more likely to do it if i get out of home and go to the gym. Pilates is also good for weight bearing, mat or reformer. There might be a studio or physio near you that run classes. Pairing pilates and gym work together has been really good for me because they compliment each other in so many ways. I thought because i was gym fit going back to pilates would be a piece of cake...well i proved myself wrong there! I think i would be in a worse place movement wise if i didn't go to the gym. Think about what you would enjoy doing or what you would like to try out.

I am reasonably active during the day but really notice it later in the evening, as I am about to get up to go to bed! I then wobble around like a geriatric!! Any exercise (if you can) is beneficial to you (keeping the joints 'oiled') so if you can, do what you can.Well done, @kezmusc !!Take care & don't over do it! xxx

I find exercise works to stretch things out but it's not a long term thing for me. As soon as I'm sitting down, the joints will seize up again (seem to be having problems with soft tissue now as well). But I walk and paddleboard when I can. Any exercise in water is good.

Exercise | BCNA Online Network

23 Replies

Mez_BCNA
Community Manager
3 years ago
Hi @Pommy8, you may like to check out BCNA's service finder to search health and wellbeing services in your area https://www.bcna.org.au/services-and-support-groups/

Breast Cancer Care WA is a wonderful charity that you are probably already aware of; they may give you some useful information as well https://www.breastcancer.org.au/
Pommy8
Member
3 years ago
Do they have body balance in perth
Kiwi_Angel
Member
7 years ago
@Hendrix I do Pilates at least once a week - quite enjoy it - the class goes fast and it’s good for getting my strength back up.
poodlejules
Member
7 years ago
I love Body Balance ..........a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates.................and during chemo found some videos on you tube that I followed in the comfort of my loungeroom anytime of the day . Its not too energetic but is great for stretching and balancing.
Sister
Member
7 years ago
What bugs me is that so many of the specific exercise programmes are during the day. Does no-one think that any of us work? (Mind you, anything that was later would likely to be in the evening and I wouldn't be able to manage the trip back to the suburbs then, either.)
Hendrix
Member
7 years ago
@kezmusc I hear you...I’ve fallen in the middle of the night and gone sliding across the room..the carpet burn (ouch) kicking the foot of the bed...omg...it’s hillarious. I tell my 84year old mum I’m older than her...I feel it lol
Hendrix
Member
7 years ago
@Zoffiel thanks to cancer I no longer smoke, so I figure I have $100 to spend on been healthy 😊 the body balance sounds interesting I will look into that
Hendrix
Member
7 years ago
Thank you @iserbrown I will look into it. I do walk a fair bit, but I feel I need more or I’d like to do more. The weight is piling on especially around the waist 🙁
Hendrix
Member
7 years ago
@Artferret yes I was thinking of Pilates 😊
Hendrix
Member
7 years ago
@sister yes I agree I could go on an hours walk maybe longer and if I sit for more than 30min I feel like my body locks up and I struggle to get up lol