Hormone Therapy

I use Femara, have vaginal atrophy, but no aches or joint pain! 

Yeah I’ve had joint pain mostly since I started, nothing too major sorest one is wrist on one hand. I take Femara Letrozole

Touch wood joint pain is not an issue for me now.Wouldnt hurt to try another brand of Letrozole to see if it helps.

The Letrozole that caused difficulties for me was manufactured by Amneal and purchase from Chemist King.I have managed ok on Letrozole manufactured by Apotex and now Sandoz from Chemist Warehouse.I switched brands as Sandoz and Amneal were $12-15 cheaper per script than Apotex.

Please be aware that each of us may react differently to the same drug as our physiology is different.Also I am not side effect free - vaginal atrophy is a major issue for me.Also joint pain and swelling in my lower limbs has been helped a lot by a daily one hour walk.

Hi Romla, which med are you on now? And no side effects?

I’m on Letrozole.Just to add to @Afraser comments I changed brands for 3 months and found myself getting quite low.I changed to another brand and. things have returned to normal.From my point of view whilst the drug is the same across all brands  the fillers/coatings used by manufacturers are not and this may cause problems - I I believe it did for me.

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. 

Hi Arlie, thanks, what meds are you on?

@sickgirl  - sorry to hear your side effects are getting worse.  Joint pain is the most common - tho the constant bloating - perhaps you should mention this to your Onc or GP & get checked out?

I see my Onc this week & will be discussing the benefits of changing meds - but in recent weeks, my side effects have lessened, mainly to my hands & difficulty in sleeping.  Even the hot flushes have stopped!

All the best xx

I've been putting this 'side effect chart' together .... not everyone gets ALL of them tho.  (The 'x' have been added at the request of BCNA members.)

https://www.bcna.org.au/metastatic-breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy/


The link above is from the BCNA website.  Hope it helps 
Some sail through with no side effects and some feel like they got the lot

There are alternatives to discuss with your Oncologist if the side effects are unbearable 

Take care