Letrozole explained - a good read
LETROZOLE AND THE HALF WHO STOP TOO SOON In one large study of 8,769 women prescribed hormone tablets after breast cancer, only 49 percent took them for the full planned time at the right schedule. Women who stopped early had a higher risk of death in that study. This post explains one of those tablets, letrozole, so that the years of treatment make sense. WHAT LETROZOLE IS Letrozole is a small 2.5 mg tablet taken once a day. Doctors use it for hormone receptor positive breast cancer in women after menopause. It is used after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer coming back, after five years of tamoxifen for extra protection, and in advanced cancer to keep the disease under control. WHERE ESTROGEN COMES FROM AFTER MENOPAUSE After menopause the ovaries make very little estrogen. Yet estrogen does not disappear. An enzyme called aromatase keeps making it in tissues around the body, and even inside the breast tumour itself. It does this by converting hormones from the adrenal glands into estrone and estradiol. Some breast cancers use that estrogen as fuel to grow. HOW LETROZOLE CUTS THE FUEL Letrozole binds tightly to the iron centre of the aromatase enzyme and jams it. Picture a factory with one central machine that turns raw material into estrogen. Letrozole jams that machine. Within two to three days, estrogen levels in the blood fall by 75 to 95 percent. In one small study, letrozole blocked more than 99 percent of the body's estrogen production in every woman tested. The tablet is also precise. It leaves the stress hormone cortisol, the salt balancing hormone aldosterone and thyroid function essentially untouched. WHY IT IS FOR WOMEN AFTER MENOPAUSE In women whose ovaries are still active, cutting estrogen would be expected to make the brain push the ovaries even harder. For that reason, guidelines only use drugs like letrozole before menopause together with treatment that switches off the ovaries. WHAT THE BIG TRIALS FOUND In the BIG 1-98 trial of over 8,000 women, letrozole lowered the risk of the cancer returning compared with tamoxifen, and lowered the risk of it spreading to distant organs by 27 percent. When researchers pooled data from nearly 32,000 women, five years of an aromatase inhibitor cut the risk of dying from breast cancer over ten years by about 40 percent compared with no hormone tablet at all. Letrozole lowers risk. It does not guarantee anything, and it is not described as a cure. For a woman at medium or high risk after menopause, it sits at the centre of the plan. Exercise, diet and supplements support that plan. They never replace the tablet. HOW THE BODY HANDLES IT Letrozole is fully absorbed whether taken with food or not. It lasts about two days in the blood and takes two to six weeks to reach steady levels. The liver clears it mainly through an enzyme called CYP2A6. Genes matter at this step. Letrozole levels can vary more than tenfold between women on the same …240ViewsSign in to react to this post5Comments
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.251ViewsSign in to react to this post5CommentsA solution to the prohibitive cost of Hyaluronic Acid
Hello I have been on Letrozole since February 2026 and have awful dryness in my vagina. I have had pretty good success with remedying it using Hyalofemme [Hyaluronic Acid] which if you get compounded in Australia costs $110.00 a month ! There are very few manufacturers here in Australia and recently one started advertising a product for around $40 a month but you need a subscription [no thank you]. I have found an online chemist in the UK which will ship me Hyalofemme (6 tubes for 6 months) for $100.00 !!! Each tube lasts 30 days. It is called Expresschemist UK. I also use organic coconut oil for daily lubrication. Kind Regards129ViewsSign in to react to this post1Comment
Suffering with Letrozole side-effects weeks after coming off it…
I think it has been discussed a lot already.. sorry… 55 y.o stage 2 ILC with mastectomy, preventative mastectomy on other side, radiotherapy. Finished all by end June this year. But I just need some HOPE that Letrozole side effects will wear off eventually… After 5 months of taking Letrozole, and going ok, I suddenly had burning pain in my wrists, hands, knees, thighs, many tender to touch, was hobbling around plus on sore feet, not even being able to clear up the kitchen after hubby cooks.. Not able to complete a shift at work.. I tried exemestane six weeks after stopping Letrozole. But for only 2 days as my wrists burned even more. I’m now 7-8 weeks post Letrozole and trying to at least go to stretch classes three times a week, and go for walks. Still relying on regular Panadol/Nurofen, can’t clear the kitchen up in the evening or go to work. Just about collapse into bed at night to make everything stop burning. When will it ever end?!!206ViewsSign in to react to this post4CommentsLetrozole question
I am newly diagnosed & on Letrozole to shrink the tumour before surgery on August 12. I’m 68 so well past menopause. My mind is spinning with it all. I’ve been reading about side effects & I know that we are all different. But I’ve read a few mentions of teeth. What is the side effects for teeth? I’m having a DEXA scan tomorrow as a baseline.297ViewsSign in to react to this post6CommentsLetrozole 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!211ViewsSign in to react to this post4CommentsHormone Therapy
I had a double mastectomy two weeks ago and need to take letrizole. I have also been told to have a bone scan and PET scan. I have a few questions, firstly, when should I begin taking letrizole, do I wait till I heal more or start now? I am worried about the side effects while I am still recovering from the surgery. I have the same question with the two scans, (bone density & PET) should I do those now or wait till I have recovered more from the surgery? I know I should have asked my surgeon at my last visit, but I was concentrating on her explanation of the pathology results and didn't think of it. The last 5 weeks since my diagnosis has been a rollercoaster of emotions and I still shake my head that I am where I am! I know that I tend to worry about the 'what ifs?' too much, and probably delaying all the inevitable instead of just getting on with it. Thank you for your advice.289ViewsSign in to react to this post7CommentsLetrozole 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 :-)326ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments
Letrozole - aches and pains continue
Last year I was switched from Tamoxifen to Letrozole. At first I was feeling okay on the Letrozole but then I had a post menopausal heavy bleed (thats a whole other story), so had a medication holiday. When I resumed the Letrozole I started to ache and have body pains constantly, usually at night which resulted in ongoing fatigue. I saw my doctor who advised to stop taking the Letrozole - I was 4 years post breast cancer at this stage, so it was felt, as my initial prognosis was good, this would be okay. My issue is now, 6 weeks after ceasing the Letrozole, I still get the body aches and pains. It seems to be getting slightly worse. Does anyone have any experience of ceasing the meds and how long does it take to start feeling pain free?1.2KViewsSign in to react to this post13Comments
Zoladex
Hi, so I’ve just been started on zoladex and I’m wondering about side effects. I feel like I suddenly have IBS or something. I’m going to the toilet 5-6 times a day. Everything I eat is giving me stomach cramping, almost like continuous period pains. I also feel nauseous a lot. Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? Does it calm down after a while? I’m scared to start taking the letrezol as well now in case it all gets worse. I was sent home from work today, first day back, because I was doubled over in pain from the cramping. It’s ruining my life and it’s only been 2 weeks.330ViewsSign in to react to this post2Comments
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