Forum Discussion
Early Days on Letrozole
So, I started taking Letrozole on the 1/6/18.
My oncologist says I have to be on it for 10 years as several ongoing studies are indicating cancer preventing benefits beyond the seven year mark. It's a watching brief though, so I'm prepared that the advice might change in this time.
Three days after starting it my ankles started to ache. A lot. It got worse and started to wake me up at night. Whether I exercised or not didn't make any difference. I took some osteo-panadol for when it was really painful but I didn't fancy living on that, so on the advice of many people here, and my oncologist, I started taking krill oil. Within a few days the pain was down to a manageable level. Hooray!
Three weeks later though the ache ramped up. At exactly the same time my hot flushes, which had subsided to a bearable level after chemo, suddenly got a lot worse. Longer, stronger and now with extra bonus sweat!
I persisted with the krill oil for another week but there was no change. So in my personal clinical trial, I came off the krill oil for a (painful) week, and then started magnesium. Again on the anecdotal evidence from the good folk here, many of whom say it helps.
I also had a foot, ankle and lower leg massage at one of those mall massage joints on the same day as I started magnesium. It was utter bliss having my aching ankles worked on!
Something changed, because again the ankle pain subsided to a bearable level. Now whether this was something to do with the massage, or the magnesium, a combination of both, or my body simply adjusting to the rapid withdrawal of oestrogen, I simply don't know.
My oncologist says no evidence that magnesium works on anything other than cramps. However I'll keep taking it for a couole more weeks and then stop. I'll observe what happens and then, if the pain returns, I'll move on to the next thing in my 'clinical trial', which is curcumin. The onc says her patients have reported success with that. There'll be a magnesium spray test at some point as well!
My ankles still ache but it's at a lower level at the moment. All our bodies are different, der, but I thought I'd share my experiments in managing Letrozole side effects. It might be useful to someone! K xox
My oncologist says I have to be on it for 10 years as several ongoing studies are indicating cancer preventing benefits beyond the seven year mark. It's a watching brief though, so I'm prepared that the advice might change in this time.
Three days after starting it my ankles started to ache. A lot. It got worse and started to wake me up at night. Whether I exercised or not didn't make any difference. I took some osteo-panadol for when it was really painful but I didn't fancy living on that, so on the advice of many people here, and my oncologist, I started taking krill oil. Within a few days the pain was down to a manageable level. Hooray!
Three weeks later though the ache ramped up. At exactly the same time my hot flushes, which had subsided to a bearable level after chemo, suddenly got a lot worse. Longer, stronger and now with extra bonus sweat!
I persisted with the krill oil for another week but there was no change. So in my personal clinical trial, I came off the krill oil for a (painful) week, and then started magnesium. Again on the anecdotal evidence from the good folk here, many of whom say it helps.
I also had a foot, ankle and lower leg massage at one of those mall massage joints on the same day as I started magnesium. It was utter bliss having my aching ankles worked on!
Something changed, because again the ankle pain subsided to a bearable level. Now whether this was something to do with the massage, or the magnesium, a combination of both, or my body simply adjusting to the rapid withdrawal of oestrogen, I simply don't know.
My oncologist says no evidence that magnesium works on anything other than cramps. However I'll keep taking it for a couole more weeks and then stop. I'll observe what happens and then, if the pain returns, I'll move on to the next thing in my 'clinical trial', which is curcumin. The onc says her patients have reported success with that. There'll be a magnesium spray test at some point as well!
My ankles still ache but it's at a lower level at the moment. All our bodies are different, der, but I thought I'd share my experiments in managing Letrozole side effects. It might be useful to someone! K xox
373 Replies
- Hi besides all the menopausal symptoms, I suffer from sore feet , I never had this problem before letrozole. I've been on it 6 weeks now . Does anyone else have this?
- Tamoxifen Grrrrr.............................
- Woohoo!! Pat on the head, @kmakm Great that you can take a break from the meds, great that you are planning on a trip to India!!! I am jealous!! Also great that you 'click' better with this Onc, who you'll feel more secure with!
To be honest, I always thought that Tamoxifen was more suited to Pre Menopausal women like yourself, where the menopause was chemo induced, so was surprised when you were put onto Letrozole! Don't be afraid of giving it a go! SO many women I've spoken to have had a better reaction with Tamoxifen (or at least put up with it better!) - The pink run is at Teewah beach up to Rainbow beach. We are meeting the convoy at Noosa north shore. The tickets have sold out a couple of months ago though.
- Thank you so much @kezmusc. It's hard to believe I'm doing it, but the tickets have been purchased!
My old oncologist said it was a toss up between an AI and Tamoxifen, but fractionally, the AI was better, so that's how we went.
@Finch, see @kezmusc's post above. Maybe an idea for your daughter?!
Where's the pink run being held? K xox - That's awesome @kmakm,
India sounds wonderful. So does the hormone holiday. I often wondered why you were put on the AI's considering your premenopausal status prior to chemo.
I am so much looking forward to my holiday in October for the pink run. Nowhere near as exciting as India but to get out of the farm for a week is a monster logistical nightmare so we rarely go away for more than two nights. It's very difficult to find someone who is confident and capable of feeding, watering and looking after 27 horses and 3 dogs. Especially when the majority of the horses belong to clients.
We all absolutely need some light at the end of the tunnel to look forward to. Something to get excited about.
The break will do you so much good. So pleased for you.
Massive hugs xoxoxoxox - Thank you @Sister.
- All really good news @kmakm. So pleased to hear that you are off to India. What a fantastic thing to be able to look forward to.
- @Vangirl Thank you. :)
Yes, my oncologist said the same but that the difference is very small.
I am only menopausal because of BC. She is very conservative about monitoring my oestrogen producing hormones so wants me to have a blood test every three to four months. She said my chemo was not completely ablative and that she's had enough patients begin menstruating again that she'd rather err on the side of caution. Had a 55yo start up again recently! - @Flaneuse Thank you Fran. K xox
