Will there ever be another way besides oestrogen suppression?

Hi @Locksley
The side effects of Letrozole can be awful, no disputing it. But not everyone gets them and not necessarily to an unmanageable degree. Which makes it even more unfair, but there it is. Talk about alternatives of course, but if Letrozole is still the oncologist’s recommendation, you can try it and see how it works for you. Getting some prior information (like a bone density scan) will help you know what the personal pros and cons are. Best wishes. 

Hi @kmakim, @kezmusc @Zoffiel @Sister
My oncologist has advised I will go onto Letrozole once I finish my treatment and I am not liking the sound of the side effects of this drug.  I will be asking him if there is something else I can try.   It makes me want to cry just thinking about this step.   

Luckily I have low expectations these days........... ;)   Don't expect too much and you'll never be disappointed right?  Besides, the way they spin the oncs through down there she'll probably be gone soon and I can see number 7 or is it 8 I dunno.   
xoxoxoxo thank you ladies

I agree with iserbrown. Time to suss out a new Onc

@kezmusc
Sad to read of your experience.  

Goodness that is bordering on rudeness!
To be dismissive and given a reminder of where you have been sounds condescending. 
Reminds me how good my Oncologist is.  He's lovely,  caring and always willing to listen and puts quality of life over side effects.
Perhaps time to sus out a new Onc

Enjoy your wine time and hopefully your next appointment is respectful......grrrr makes me cross to hear of the attitude. 
Take care 
Hugs 

Grrrr... @kezmusc your onc is raising my blood pressure.

Can't believe your onco said 'well those things can happen in menopause anyway' ! Despite the knowing nod not appropriate at all because these side effects don't happen anywhere near the same in menopause...i can vouch for that.  As nice as some these people may be they just...don't...get it.
Best of luck with letrozole. 

@Kmakm   Don't feel  bad.  I missed being a witness at a court case about three months ago cause I showed up the next day lol.......true story, I was sure it was on that day......duh!.

So, just back from the onc and just as I thought she was pretty adamant about changing me to Letrozole, even with the fact that my bone scan came back as borderline osteopenia (pretty rapid decline in two years I think) and that I have hereditary high cholesterol which the Tamoxifen seems to have helped somehow.

Nope, the book says menopause (as per hormone test results) =letrozole.  I argued my point, advised that the last two onc's said I should stay with the devil I know since I'd had so many problems with this one. They'd told me the percentage benefit was small anyway but she wasnt buying it.  
I get a recap on how shitty my diagnosis was and that I really should be thankful these drugs are available or words to that effect your honor. 

I gave a bit of a speal about how much these drugs can affect your life etc etc etc, yada yada..........
Resonse...the knowing nod and."well those things can happen in menopause anyway" aaggghhhhh  Fine, but normal, non cancery people can take things to control some of that shit.

"I'll see you in 6 weeks and see how you're going on it"

Faarrrk, I think I've just been dismissed.  Take script,consider dropping it in the bin on the way through, mumble something I'm glad she didnt hear and shout multiple very bad words on the way home.

Me thinks it's wine o'clock.

Hope your mum is ok @Artferret 🤞🍀. 

I agree with you all. I wish there was an alternative. Having come off my break in August it's been as if letrozole said, yes! we're back on and it has hit my body harder in a shorter space of time. Hasn't prob helped that mum has been in hospital with breathing issues, no not covid, which they discovered that was due to a fluid build up but that's a whole other story, plus a early stage bowel cancer diagnosis a couple of months ago, mum had stage 3 bowel cancer 9 years ago, no surgery this time due to mum's breathing problems but a repeat colonscopy in December. Her surgeon is quite positive about it as was in a polyp although the pathology couldn't give clear results about margins. Mum is on 19 medications, but no side effects, i feel i shouldn't complain about my one! 2 hours in the garden yesterday and my hands and shoulders are screaming...
2 years to go, 2 years to go...
I did read somewhere that with one of the studies done the AIs still worked just as effectively if you did 3 months on 3 months off...you just had a small problem of compliance...funny that.
Keep smiling ladies, albeit through gritted teeth at times.