Femara / Letrozole Side Effects. Thank You Post.

My side effects started early withiin first 3/4 weeks but mostly manageable now.I take Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health two daily and Krill oil which is a concentrated fish oil. I don’t know what’s in your hair and nail tablets but just a small caution with supplements as some may conflict with our bc treatment - so important to check with your medical team and is also this site worth using

www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/herbal-remedies-and-treatment

I know Letrozole and other Aromatase Inhibitors thin bones - apparently Griffith Uni on the Gold Coast and The Bone Clinic has a program of weight training which is having great success countering osteoporosis.I was osteoporotic prior to bc and had had a fracture so every 6months I have a Prolia injection to help build bone.I also do a gentle stretch/ balance class which has some light weight work which I think helps.

One thing I have gathered from this blog is persistence is the key as the body adapts eventually to Letrozole .Good luck and best wishes.xo

Hi all! How long did it take for the side effects of Letrozole to appear? I’ve only been on a week! Taking Caltrate, Vitamin D and a Hair and Nail tablet also! Was wondering about adding magnesium and/or fish oil! I try and walk daily and do yoga.....for head space as we’ll a see other health benefits! 

Thank You Romla for sharing your info. We can all learn from one another. Take Care :-)   T

Hi Chea the brand of calcium/Vit D tablets I don’t think matters but quantities do - there is an Australian Osteoporosis site which will give you recommended quantities of each depending on your circumstances - I take a lot of Vit D as I avoid the sun as am very fair.

Hi Romla.   Busy few days I have had. Thank you for your reply. I will check  up on the Echinacea after I finish here. I am doing 1200 Calcium and 1000 Vitamin D a day. Will check about the Caltrate Bone and Muscle. I am ER+ and PR+ and HER2-. Unfortunately I have a small BC and C in the Lymph nodes under my arm and also in my neck near my shoulder blade.  The reason I am on Letrozole is to shrink the Tumor in my neck +. At present it is working. My bone density in very high. -3.4 so with my Osteoiporosis I am in a catch 22. Go back late Jan with a CT scan + dye to see how I am travelling.
The last 6 months have been a rollercoaster and it has not slowed down yet. Thank you for your reply. Getting my head around it all. Take Care :-)   T

Hi Unicornkisses.   Hope you continue with only mild pain.:-)   I have found with the magnesium i am much much better.
Take care :-) T

I take Caltrate Plus 1x twice a day, as instructed by my Oncologist.
I had a blood test prior to starting Femara and was found to be deficient in Vit D so my Oncologist recommended taking an extra Vit D supplement for 30 days only.
I also take -
magnesium 600mg 1 in morning,
fish oil 1,000mg 1 in morning,
Glucosamine and Chondroitin 1 in morning
Femara in evening.

So far only one day of mild hip pain in the 4 weeks I have been taking Femara, so I really hope that continues. 

@brightspace and @ chea Osteoporosis.org.au recommends up to 2000IU of vitamin D so that’s why I take 2 Caltrate Bone And Muscle Health daily BUT that said do check carefully recommended daily doses as yes excessive doses esp fat soluble vitamins is toxic. We have tended to think complementary medicines being natural are good for us but not always depending on dose and contraindications - we often tend to forget best is in the foods we eat if possible iand we are not always deficient. Eg my son who is a gym junkie has been taking a natural protein supplement to help with his muscle development which caused major muscle spasms and cramps as it caused a deficiency in magnesium.

Hi Chea no need to take extre Vit D as alreading with your calcium.
vitamins ADEand K are fat soluble and remain in our body they are not excreted in urine andcan if taken in excess be toxic especially vit A
Good luck B

Hi @Chea happy to chat and help if I can.  I too had lumpectomy - lobular cancer deep on LHS 1.4cm tumour.Had a re- excision to get clear margins.Also sentinel node biopsy - 2 nodes 1 clear 1 microstasis. Then 16 rounds radiotherapy which went well.Am er+ so on hormone therapy - Letrozole 4 plus months and managing ok. I take on recommendation oncologist 1 Krill oil capsule and 2 Caltrate Bone nd Muscle Health daily - latter 1morning 1 night. By far and away best thing i’ve Done is daily 1 hour walk and have found can walk thru joint pain plus helps with my headspace staving off the occasional blues .and helps with my weight. Letrozole for me has nearly trebled my cholesterol- luckily low to start with - but not taking statins just low dose aspirin. I had osteoporosis before starting Letrozole and a fracture so have 6 monthly Prolia injections too .Two more things - YWCA has a fantastic free hydrotherapy course 8 weeks x 2 hours well worth it plus as osteoporosis is a worry with AIs like Letrozole The Bone Clinic and Griffith Uni been having great results with bone density with a specialty weights program.I can’t access it here but do light weights at a gentle Stretch and Balance class twice weekly.Finally , sorry so long winded meant to write this before but been a lot happening here with my family .PS Just thought I’d let you know have never been an exerciser but it really does help. Anyway by for now - keep in touch .XO