Hormone Therapy
Hi, have been quiet lately just getting back into life or trying to. Finished herceptin August last year and just at the 1yr mark of Femara (Latrazole) with I think another 4 to go. Anyone else on thi...
Forum Discussion
Hi @sickgirl
Side effects can be very demoralising. I don't get joint pain or bloating on letrozole but I do get other side effects and my oncologist would now go for 10 years (like tamoxifen) rather than 5. The problem remains that most of the best tools for trying to reduce the chance of cancer returning are large, blunt instruments for delicate work. Not the oncologists' (or anyone else's) fault and many of these tools were unknown 30 years ago. Side effects vary so in the final analysis we are the ones who have to decide if we stick with it, make a change or stop. All of which is really difficult. By all means ask your oncologist if you can switch and see if there is an improvement. If not, the choice is between the devil you know (the unpleasant side effects) and the devil you don't know (cancer returning). While the active ingredients in AIs may be the same, the binders differ which may help the bloating. Definitely worth a shot! Best wishes.
Side effects can be very demoralising. I don't get joint pain or bloating on letrozole but I do get other side effects and my oncologist would now go for 10 years (like tamoxifen) rather than 5. The problem remains that most of the best tools for trying to reduce the chance of cancer returning are large, blunt instruments for delicate work. Not the oncologists' (or anyone else's) fault and many of these tools were unknown 30 years ago. Side effects vary so in the final analysis we are the ones who have to decide if we stick with it, make a change or stop. All of which is really difficult. By all means ask your oncologist if you can switch and see if there is an improvement. If not, the choice is between the devil you know (the unpleasant side effects) and the devil you don't know (cancer returning). While the active ingredients in AIs may be the same, the binders differ which may help the bloating. Definitely worth a shot! Best wishes.