Letrozole - How long is too long?
Hi, I'm 56yrs old and I've had bilateral breast cancer (2001 & 2012) Lumpectomy x 2, chemo & radiation I've been taking letrozole for 10 years - I have osteoporosis (significantly improved with prol...
Forum Discussion
Dear @SueP
I will hit ten years in May and I intend to stop! When first treated, Letrozole was for five years. By the time I had completed four years, research indicated that ten years was better, research that my oncologist (pretty good on such matters) felt was valid and worth serious consideration. So I continued. At nine years, there was no mention of further research ( I did ask!) so I am not anticipating any extension when I see my oncologist in April (I have maintained yearly visits, will now move to two yearly). My own less than perfect information is that a significant percentage of women fail to last for five years, let alone ten so I imagine research on those who have spent fifteen years on Letrozole is scant indeed.
I don’t have osteoporosis, have an osteopoenic hip, my cholesterol is fine and my vaginal atrophy improved with treatment and while undoubtedly triggered by Letrozole, has probably been aggravated by age (I am 77). Overall, it could have been worse but I am looking forward to not popping that little peach coloured pill any more! Best wishes to you.
I will hit ten years in May and I intend to stop! When first treated, Letrozole was for five years. By the time I had completed four years, research indicated that ten years was better, research that my oncologist (pretty good on such matters) felt was valid and worth serious consideration. So I continued. At nine years, there was no mention of further research ( I did ask!) so I am not anticipating any extension when I see my oncologist in April (I have maintained yearly visits, will now move to two yearly). My own less than perfect information is that a significant percentage of women fail to last for five years, let alone ten so I imagine research on those who have spent fifteen years on Letrozole is scant indeed.
I don’t have osteoporosis, have an osteopoenic hip, my cholesterol is fine and my vaginal atrophy improved with treatment and while undoubtedly triggered by Letrozole, has probably been aggravated by age (I am 77). Overall, it could have been worse but I am looking forward to not popping that little peach coloured pill any more! Best wishes to you.