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KimF's avatar
KimF
Member
3 years ago

Letrozole

Hello again!

A couple of questions for you all!

First one: I've been on Letrozole for 10 days so far, and I'm just wondering if the side effects are felt immediately, or do they stalk and pounce down the track? Apart from wanting to howl constantly (been howling since I got the diagnosis in mid-January), I haven't felt much different - long may it last! I haven't had surgery, chemo or radiation yet - oncologist has started me on Letrozole as we are currently overseas for a couple of weeks.

Second one - a bit random I think: for those who have had early side effects, were your estrogen levels high or low to start with? All my hormones are low and I haven't taken HRT.

I'm just trying to understand all this.

Thank you!

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  • KimF's avatar
    KimF
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi @afrazser. Thank you for your comments. I hope that the symptoms keep away. Other than the AI, did you do anything else to reduce estrogen? Congratulations for sustaining it for 10 years - wow - that's incredible! Good luck with your journey!
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    3 years ago
    @KimF

    Letrozole side effects may vary widely, so it can be hard to tell if you are not having any or if they are delayed. Certainly 10 days are very early days indeed. From the vantage point of nearly 10 years of Letrozole (I stop in May, hooray) I have never had joint pain, aches or menopausal type symptoms, which can occur. My bone density has taken a bit of a bashing but that is symptom-less (unless I fall and break something!). My bone density was excellent when I started and also my age is a contributing factor over a decade. It’s worth having a bone density test to know what’s what. I have vaginal dryness, which can and has been treated. You may have relatively few side effects. 

    I was 67 when diagnosed so my estrogen  levels were probably not high and will have fallen steadily since. Worth remembering if you need estrogen treatment for vaginal dryness. Best wishes.