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JadeN's avatar
JadeN
Member
20 days ago

Xanthelasma and raised cholesterol on letrozole.

Triple pos IDC girl here. I’m post 5 mths chemo, single mastectomy with lymph sweep with clear margins and post oopherectomy.  Finished trastuzimab a bit early due to side effects so now plan is for just hormone therapy 5 yrs.

 I just saw GP today regarding what looks like xanthelomas.  Hes given me blood form to check cholesterol and thyroid.  

I showed oncologist yellow skin 2 mths ago and again 5 days ago and she saying it’s not related to any cancer treatment and see GP.  I looked up Letrozole info on eviQ and it states that raised cholesterol a known side effect and that levels will be monitored.  Today I’ve just got results back and LDL is 5.9 and total cholesterol is 8.2. I’m starting to lose trust in oncologist and feel like I’ve got to check everything so to prevent medical harm. I do t have medical training but do have a keen interest in reading full info of every medical intervention due to previous experiences with medical system.

Anyone else have cholesterol issue on letrozole? And if so did you switch to diff AI? Or did you stop taking? Or did you treat naturally?  EviQ says other AI’s can all raise cholesterol too.

letrozole

3 Replies

  • Tri's avatar
    Tri
    Member
    17 days ago

    HiJadeN​ I have a similar issue with elevated cholesterol- I left a reply on your thread in the triple positive group here 

    Letrozole and raised cholesterol. | BCNA Online Network

    but also sharing forKatie46​  my family history was a v high risk factor but my GP also mentioned  a range of factors, including the ratio of Triglycerides to HDL score (mine was <2) and my calcium score (zero) after a CT scan (in my favour), also weight and exercise regime. I appreciated his view that total cholesterol is one of a number of factors to weigh up in thinking about the need for statins. I really don’t want to have a stroke! But also I’m trying hard to get my cholesterol down (I have had success before) 

  • Katie46's avatar
    Katie46
    Member
    18 days ago

    My oncologist told me I should get my cholesterol checked as the drugs I am on (including letrozole) can cause it to rise. My cholesterol was relatively high to begin with which is hereditary, and was 7.2 when I had it checked a few weeks ago up from 6.1. There isn't too much I can do with my diet to reduce it as I'm pretty much following the healthy heart diet anyway because of my history. I'm giving it a go for 6 weeks, but if it doesn't improve my GP has told me the next step is statins.

  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    19 days ago

    Sorry I can't really help on your cholesterol question ... I wasn't on Letrozole for long enough for anything to develop like that.  

    Have you joined the Triple Pos group & put your query there?  They may be on the same treatment & help you, as they have a lived experience of it?

    Can you see another Onc for a 2nd opinion? You are quite within your rights to do this.   I ended up swapping Oncs due to my low opinion of my first one!

    I am guessing you would not be able to take statins to control it?

    I hope you are able to get it down to better levels soon xx