Xanthelasma and raised cholesterol on letrozole.

My collestrol did not improve with diet, I didn't really think it would as I have a family history of high collestrol, and I pretty much follow the heart healthy diet. My GP and Oncologist recommended I start statins, and I've been taking them for 4 months now. I take 5mg a day and my collestrol has reduced from 7 to 4.5. I don't have any new side effects that I've noticed. I have a history of hashimoto's, but do not require medication for that at this stage. 

I've been taking letrozole for 2 years, I have the usual menopause symptoms, plus stiff joints in my hands in the morning, particularly my right hand, the side I had my sentinel nodes removed from, which improves dramatically with movement. My feet can feel a little stiff when I first get up in the morning, but again improves quickly with movement.  I also have dry eyes, but that has improved quite a bit since I finished the 2 year course of abemaciclib.

I had my ovaries removed earlier this year as I was fed up getting the zolodex injections every month. 

While the side effects can be frustrating, I personally think the benefits of taking letrozole are worth it for me.

It's hard to figure out what drugs are causing what side effects, with menopause doing it's thing in the background as well.

Maybe have another chat with your oncologist and see if they can switch you to another AI?

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) 

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.

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