Ive been taking Aromasin for just over 4 years along with medication to help me sleep and for depression and magnified anxiety. I have back ache, stiff joints, hot flushes and struggle to think straight and get my words out. I'm not sure what feeling normal is like anymore, is this the medication or how I am now? I am 64 years old this year, I exercise, maybe Im just old now.I haven't had online discussion before when I went through surgery, chemo or radiation, although I did look at discussions and that helped. Im finding now that Im needing to know how others have managed through the long years of hormone therapy. I have had breaks of one month every so often but I find its harder getting back on the Aromasin after a break as I don't get much relief. My oncologist has said as long as I do 9 months in a 12 month period that's okay but it gets harder to go back on it. I would like to know how others have managed to finish 5 years of hormone therapy or 10 years (amazing women, my hat goes off to you all) Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one doing this, I know I'm not.Also how does your body and emotions feel after finishing hormone treatment, like how different do you feel? How long did it take to realise you were better or doesn't that happen? Is there much or any difference?I guess I'm living in hope that I'll finish and not need other medications when I finish hormone therapy and that my body and emotions will feel better. Thanks for your input. X

It is important for medical professionals to acknowledge what patients are experiencing even if they are powerless to do much about it. I think many of them refuse to do so or brush it off because to admit it, is too difficult for them. A perfectly human reaction, I guess, but one which many need professional development with. In the end, it is my choice to continue with the AI. But it is my oncologist's job to recognise and acknowledge the side effects, record them, discuss them, and try to assist in finding ways to help me manage them. As I have said in the past, I have been very happy with my oncologist on this front - he recognises the issues but is also very open in admitting the limitations of current treatment in this regard. We're all hoping something better comes along but just because this is all we have, doesn't mean that it is okay for medicos to pretend all is rosy. To refuse to see the problems, is to deny acknowledgement of the person who has them.

My oncologist stopped my hormone therapy at my yearly checkup in February this year. I had completed 7 years and 3 months on a combination of Tamoxifen and Letrozole. In answer to your question about how does it feel after stopping and do you feel better etc, in my case, the answer is yes.The lack of estrogen was resulting in many soft tissue (tendon) injuries that just wouldn’t heal for me. I did wonder if it was just my age (I am 55 now) but it seems that as the time off the medication has gone on my body is repairing itself. Mentally I am happier and calmer. My pain is gone. Hope that helps to know that your body can function more normally again once the hormone therapy has done the important job of reducing the chance of recurrence. Take care and best wishes for your last few months of it. xxx

Dear @Silvergirl You’re not old, bits of you just feel that way as my GP once said (I’m 75). Your medication is hard work but you are almost there, if you are doing 5 years! Some people manage better or longer or both, because they don’t experience the same side effects - I am in year 8 of Femara, and while I have side effects (vaginal atrophy, a bit of bone thinning) I don’t have any pain or fatigue. I can do it because it’s easier! My admiration is for those who do any amount of time under debilitating circumstances. Give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it. I can’t say how it feels when you finish but at least there is the satisfaction of knowing you’ve run the course and done all you can. Exercise may not feel like it’s helping but it does. I hope someone else can give you some joy about improvements when you finish. Best wishes.

Hi Silvergirl,I am only 6 months in to Letrazole and so far so good.I do know from what I have read that a significant proportion of women have adverse side effects.So congratulations for making it to 4 years!I liken it to a marathon , you have got this far, and the finish line is in sight.The pill does have a real impact on the likelihood of recurrence so seek the advice of your medical team to help you finish this marathon.

Definitely not old!! Welcome to the forum @Silvergirl - well done on doing 4 years on Aromasin! I am at 3 years now - Letrozole, then Exemestane and currently Arimidex (last 2.5 years.). I was mid 60s when diagnosed & went from being a relatively fit, 'ok' sized lady - to now feeling like I am 80 & weighing an extra 10kg! :( My aches & pains 'come & go' ... I haven't had a break on Arimidex yet .... tho did on the other 2. We live in hope that when we stop taking the tablets, that our bodies will return to some sort of normality ...... I hope so!Take dare & all the best xx

Hormone therapy struggling in 4th year

Julez1958
Member
4 years ago
Hi Silvergirl,
I am only 6 months in to Letrazole and so far so good.
I do know from what I have read that a significant proportion of women have adverse side effects.
So congratulations for making it to 4 years!
I liken it to a marathon , you have got this far, and the finish line is in sight.
The pill does have a real impact on the likelihood of recurrence so seek the advice of your medical team to help you finish this marathon.
Zoffiel
Member
4 years ago
@Silvergirl the AI thing is a real lottery. I could not tolerate Letrazole and ditched it after about 9 months. I felt like shit all the time. So, I switched to Aromasin. No good either. My last option was Exemestane, so I gave that a shot. I can't say I'm pleased, but I feel less desperate and my onc is happy that 4 years after starting the wretched things, I'm still swallowing one of them.
It's really possible that what I was suffering in the early days was some pretty nasty long term effects from my last round of treatment; which might explain how I found the drugs I've ended up taking more tolerable--could just be time.

Having had one recurrence, I'm pretty motivated to avoid another and these foul pills give me the best chance of doing that. It's not ideal, and I wish that I could spend a couple of months feeling 'normal' but I think the damage is probably done now.

By the time I'm your age, I'll have done my ten years. I shudder to think what sort of condition I'll be in by then, but hopefully I'll still be around to find out. MXX
FLClover
Member
4 years ago
All I can say is you’re definitely not old, and this medication is hard work 😩. But it’s keeping the cancer away. Maybe talk to your onc about changing your antidepressants or AI to another one?
Afraser
Member
4 years ago
Dear @Silvergirl
You’re not old, bits of you just feel that way as my GP once said (I’m 75). Your medication is hard work but you are almost there, if you are doing 5 years! Some people manage better or longer or both, because they don’t experience the same side effects - I am in year 8 of Femara, and while I have side effects (vaginal atrophy, a bit of bone thinning) I don’t have any pain or fatigue. I can do it because it’s easier! My admiration is for those who do any amount of time under debilitating circumstances. Give yourself a pat on the back, you deserve it. I can’t say how it feels when you finish but at least there is the satisfaction of knowing you’ve run the course and done all you can. Exercise may not feel like it’s helping but it does. I hope someone else can give you some joy about improvements when you finish. Best wishes.

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