Letrozole and dermatitis?
Hi all - I have been on letrozole for about 10 weeks now, following a lumpectomy and radiation for hormone positive ILC. Over the last couple of weeks I have developed a terribly itchy red rash over my legs and arms. My GP is investigating the cause, but I wondered if anyone else had experienced this as a possible side-effect of letrozole? I have seen other posts about rashes being a side effect of other AIs but not so much letrozole? thanks!
Letrozole or Tamoxifin?
Hi Fellow Hormone blockers :-) Really need some advise , my situation 60yrs old with thin bones Had 15cms DCIS removed via mastectomy and a 5mm invasive cancer. The oncologist is giving me the choice between the 2 drugs for 5 years. If I was to go on Letrozole it will thin my already thin bones so would need to go on a drip 2 times a year with a bone strengthening drug in it also need permission from the dentist. Tamoxifin apart from the similar side effects it also can cause blood clots and uturus cancer, Im really conflicted. The oncologist is going to mail a lot of material out to me then in a months time we will make a decision. I really wanted to talk to the real people taking these drugs, your experience and if you have been on both your preference? Appreciate your help with this decision :-)
Hormone Blockers Weight gain & GLP-1s
Hi Everyone, I am 53 yeards old and 3 years into hormone blockers and am managing (barely) all the side-effects except for one. Weight gain. I have always been fit and active and I am working out more than ever and eating incredibly healthy and nothing seems to make a difference. I have slowly increased from a size 10 to almost a 14 since commencing hormone blockers. I have seen some medical evidence that GLP-1's at a low dose have been helpful for not just weight loss but also a reduction in other side effects as well. Has anyone else had a conversation with their oncologist regarding using GLP-1's and potential benefits? I don't like the thought of taking yet another drug but I am getting to the point of worrying about everything I eat and also cannot afford to keep buying another size up! If anyone has any info on this topic or knows of any specialists in this space I would appreciate it very much, Thanks!!
Nausea after 3 days on Exemestane?
I tried Exemestane for 3 days and felt really nauseaous and stopped taking it. Nausea went away next day. Has anyone else had this side effect after such a short time? I found one old post on Reddit saying the same thing. My oncologist questioned that I could get such an extreme reaction after such a short time.
Letrozole - compound pharmacy
Hello I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with getting Letrozole made by a compounding pharmacy to reduce the fillers and preservatives that come with the commercial Letrozole? I am about to start Letrozole and am trying to minimise side-effects as much as possible from the get-go to increase my chances of staying on it - I am very sensitive to meds, preservatives, etc. With that in mind, I’m very interested in hearing people’s stories and experiences with compounding chemists and hormone therapy. Thank you all :)
Duration of endocrine therapy in premenopausal Australian patients
Hello all Very long time since I’ve poked my head into this discussion forum. I’d like to hear what other younger pre-menopausal patients around the country are being recommend regarding duration of total endocrine therapy. I myself am now onto year 6 of ovarian suppression and AI, a choice I have continued although I could have switched to tamoxifen alone. Please comment with your doctors advice and your stage/diagnosis. Are you doing: 5 years ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitor 7 years ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitor 10 years ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitor 5 years tamoxifen +/- ovarian suppression and then further 5 years ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitor 10 years tamoxifen alone
Using 'the oil' for Exemestane side effects
Hi there, I'm curious to hear from people who've been using 'the oil' to treat side effects of hormone therapy. I've noticed people don't say the actual name of it, assuming it gets flagged?! To cut my long story short... Diagnosed in June, mastectomy in July, radiotherapy in August/September, and then started hormone therapy September/October. I'm on Goserelin every 28 days, plus Exemestane daily. I'm told this is the plan for the next 5-10 years. However, my joint, ligament and muscle aches are horrible! I've read similar side effects from others on here - where there's a joint, it aches, particularly overnight - I didn't even know elbows and knuckles could ache! My feet are so painful to walk on any time I get up from sitting/lying down. I'd heard a few people say the oil has helped them with these side effects. I've been taking it for 5 weeks now and am quite disappointed that I feel very little effect. I'm taking Altreleaf C B D 100 ISO - 100mg. I take 0.5ml in the morning, 0.5ml at lunchtime, then 1ml at 8pm. He gave me one containing T H C too (because I asked for it ;-) but I can't really use it as you can't have it in your system at all when you drive. I'm 46 and a mum of two young girls so driving is a pretty essential part of my daily life. I'd love to hear it others have tried the oil and had similar disappointment, or any success. I'd also love to hear from anyone who's been on Exemestane and changed to another drug - because I'm told it's brutal and not many women stay on it. I'm thinking my only option really is to switch to something else but worry it'll be the same! Thanks in advance!
Letrozole aches and pains
Hi everyone, I hope everyone is having a good day today :) I was put on Tamoxifin in March after my BC treatment, and then I found I had PALB2 so I had an oophorectomy and my Onc changed my meds to Letrozole now I have no ovaries. My sister in-law is a naturopath and kinesiologist and after all my chemo and radio she tested me and gave me a herb concoction to "clean up the mess". I told her what ever she gives me needs to be hormone free and compliment Letrozole, she has treated many cancer patients before and said all is ok. So, I was feeling ok, well, as ok as you can be for being put into chemical menopause, you know, hot flashes, a few aches and pains, brain fog.. hmmm maybe a bit more than a fog :) not great but I was managing, so my Onc says she isn't happy with me being on the herbs, she cannot know if they are still giving me hormones (or what ever it does) so she told me to stop, she said my body basically needs to go cold turkey on hormones and she needs to be sure nothing is effecting my medication. So, I went off them straight away and literally a week later....hoolie doolie I feel like I've been hit by a truck! My aches and pains in my back, legs, elbows, shoulder, neck are horrible, my legs have that tight tense feeling like they are just about to cramp...all the time! Sleeping is almost impossible, either waking up and staying awake or waking up and tossing and turning from my legs being so restless, and my ears constantly ringing all night. I wonder if those herbs were amazing and helping me through this or they were hindering the hormone therapy. I wish we had a way to find out. I really don't like feeling this way and the lack of sleep just effects everything else in my life and I just feel like I am complaining about my aches and pains all the time. I don't have another appointment with Onc for 12 months now, BC surgeon in 4 months. So my question is...does it get better? I am 3 months into a 7 year course. I am doing light exercise with light weights 4-5 times a week, eating pretty healthy, but I seriously feel like I can't stand, sit, lay, squat down, get back up...anything with it hurting like I have done a 3 hour intense workout and over done it and all I can think right now is that 7 years is a long long time!!! Any advice or feedback will be greatly appreciated, be it good or not so good :) Thanks for listening Sam
Letrozole and GERD
Was taking Letrozole for 13 months when I started getting severe pains around my breast bone (like an alien trying to burst out). I thought it was my heart. Medical oncologist felt it was the Letrozole interacting with my diagnosed GERD and told me to stop for a month then try Anastrozole. Over that month the pain slowly left leaving me very relieved to know I wasn't having a heart attack...lol Been on the new med for 10 days and so far so good. No side effects (touch wood). When I started Letrozole I had hot flushes, joint pain, headaches, immediately. They eased off to just very occasional hot flushes but an enormous weight gain (12kgs). Fingers crossed this new medication is much kinder to me.
After 13 years and 2 diagnoses today the biggest celebration yet...
After 13 years and 2 diagnoses today my Oncologist gave me a discharge. A day I NEVER believed would come or would be possible. To anyone who is at the beginning, don't let go of hope that you will get through this. It's definitely not lost on me the many that don't make it this far. So I feel humbled and incredibly reflective of the 13 years that have brought me to this day and to my new normal of who I have become. In 2011 I was diagnosed with ER+ left breast cancer, underwent biopsies, surgery, radiation and tamoxifen. Until 2015 at my yearly checkup the unthinkable, impossible happened, I had a recurrence in the same spot in spite of all the treatment. My world shattered for a 2nd time, another surgery and chemo which was no picnic but I look back and think wow kid...you did that! it was damn hard and you were so sick, but you made it out the other side, put on Arimidex and switched to Aromasin. 1 year on 2017 I was recommended to follow with a mastectomy, so I had a single done and diep flap reconstruction, massive op and difficult. So 6 monthly visits to the Surgeon and Oncologist since 2015. I gave the AI's away about 2 years ago, I had been taking them for 10 years. Thrust into menopause during Chemo, so that was hard to contend with. 6 months with an Exercise Physiologist to help me. Prolia injections 6th monthly for 8 years and today is the day the Oncologist gave me wings to fly...a feeling I've not known throughout the whole ordeal. A closure to this chapter and a possibility of moving forward with my new normal. I managed to get back to work in 2017 and haven't stopped. I work full time in Education particularly in behaviour management and my biggest passion was to publish a book of Poetry which I did recently. Something I may never have done if not from walking this path. I feel more connected to me than I ever was. So today I celebrate just for now I will sit with no thought of what tomorrow might bring. Live a great life everyone, and trust that you are brave enough and strong enough to get through it. PS: This is a link to my first book https://amzn.asia/d/i1vI8JN for anyone who is curious. Hugs xo Melinda