Anastrozole

Forgot and worth a try perhaps-  on advice from oncologist who prescribed Letrozole my AI I take 1 Krill Oil tablet daily - apparently it’s much stronger than fish oil which requires many more tablets daily. Hope it helps with joint pain.

Being thrown suddenly into menopause does take time to adjust. I didn't feel myself for around  2years during peri-menopause. It got better.
I was very worried when starting letrozole it would be like that  again. It felt no different. 

Mental recovery from breast cancer isn't easy. I got really depressed from chemo and the length of time to get my energy back and brain working on all cylinders has taken 12months.

I did have really stiff ankles feet and wrists. That has definetly improved over  months and I just have some morning ankle stiffness now. Exercise really helped. It lifts the  mood. Improves brain finctioning and loosens up those joints. I only have issues now if sitting around too much (as well as my arthritic back then seizing )

So ...it could be a combo of things. But worth discussing with your onco. Kath x

As a casual observation over the past few months I am wondering whether women who have experienced chemotherapy are finding hormone therapy more debilitating than those who have not as chemo may impact on joints. I am on an AI - Letrozole - did not have chemo . I take 2 Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health daily ,have a 6monthly Prolia injection and have managed ok thus far with joint pain . Only side effect I find is a tendency to the blues/ depression.I found a daily 1 hour walk helpful but am struggling to keep it up because of hot weather and busy family of teenagers on holidays interrupting my routine.The walk seems to enable me to walk thru joint pain , reduce fluid retention and maybe it elevates my mood by releasing endorphins. I might add I had radiotherapy and have a bit of problems with my ribs I think as a result. Also eating healthily esp low sugar/ fat seems to help with the blues but Christmastime is difficult for me as all my favourite foods appear.One thing I am aware of is that my cholesterol which is normally low more than doubled since being on Letrozole and gather is a common side effect. 

I don't think one size fits all. I have been on an AI for five years and I have not turned into an old crone! I don't have any aches and pains (at least none I didn't have before), I am fitter than I was five years ago because I have taken up gym work and yoga, and most people say I look a lot younger than my age (72). It isn't doing my bone density a great deal of good, but I knew that risk, and my bone density at 67 was excellent so it's a calculated risk and so far I'm OK. My oncologist and I are weighing up the pros and cons of 10 years over 5. I completely agree that people need to know as much as possible about treatment and side effects, but as with chemo there are huge differences. 

@Annski I just want to say even though this is not an issue for me (atm) I am grateful for the explanation in your post. Thank you. 

It is hard there are no easy answers, with Arimidex or the like, as I had a recurrence already I wasnt going to risk another, so a year after treatment opted for a single mastectomy/diep flap recon, Im nearly a year on from that too. Chemo also gave me the wonderful gift not just for menopause but osteoporosis in my neck and lower back HAHA! I take Prolia injections every 6 months. All going well in March with a bone density scan he said he will push me back to yearly checkups. 

It really has taken me 2yrs to recover from chemo and taking the AI, Ive just started a new job 5 days in education, it is bloody hard because nobody understands. So I just plod along as best I can to the day I can stop taking it or they come up with something better. Chemo is a beast...I wouldnt choose it again knowing the hard road I've had because of it. x

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Thank you all so much for your replies. Jeannie, you nailed it when you said you feel like you've aged 20 years!! I'm 45 years old and was fit and healthy prior to all this. Chemo threw me into menopause and then had the oopherectomy. I certainly feel I've been smashed. I have an appt with my oncologist in 2weeks so will certainly discuss options then. 

@JodieAnne I was put on Tamoxifen in 2011 at my 1st diagnosis after lumpectomy and radiation treatment...I had a recurrence inspite of all of that in the same spot. In 2015 I had another major lumpectomy as am big breasted, chemo and was told to throw Tamoxifen in the bin as it stopped working, studies show it stops working in 1/3 of cases. It is for pre menopausal women too and I had zero side effects on it. When I was placed on Arimidex in Jan 2016 after completing chemo as I was thrown into menopause uuugh!!!! very very hard! I can concur with the pain, joints and feet and I was like an old woman. My Oncologist switched me to Aromasin this year however its no different,so I just put up with it. I take magnesium daily in water with Vitamin D and I have to say have done for a very long time, I now rarely have to take panadol unless Im severe. 

So it's not usual you would be switched back from an AI to Tamoxifen, definitely talk with your Oncologist about it. I trialed 6 weeks off it and kept a journal at his request, it was so noticeable. Ive also worked with an exercise physiologist for over a year and it helped alot mainly the stretching more than anything. Exercise in general is still very difficult and the Oncologist said whilst on the medication will forever be impaired and impacted. 

xx Melinda

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