Letrozole for Breast Cancer User Reviews (Page 3)

• cmm...
• August 6, 2015

"I have stage 4 breast cancer and the looks at the hospital were not pretty. It did not look good for me. I have been on Letrozole for 6 months and it is working. The tumors are shrinking or disappearing and I feel so much better. My hands, feet, and legs are stiff but so what - I stretch them to loosen up. My hair is thinning but so what - there are other things I can use to cover my head. If God put this drug to cure me, I can take these small inconveniences. I am happy to know that this joint pain is caused by the medication. I would like to know if the medication actually heals and makes you cancer-free and if it can end or if medication is needed for my life. I am 54, almost 55, and if this pill can give me life, small side effects are ok."

• joa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 13, 2018

"I started taking letrozole in June. Side effects started almost immediately: fatigue, hot flashes, joint and muscle aches, and hair thinning. I have cut my hair very short to hopefully make the thinning less noticeable. I just realized that I cut my hair 5-6 weeks ago, and it does not seem to be growing at all. Has anyone else noticed this side effect? I would recommend yoga and acupuncture to help with the side effects. Without them, I would not be able to tolerate this medicine! Good luck to you all who are taking this drug!"

• Ela...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2018

"Diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago. Took anastrozole, which had side effects: fatigue, memory loss, weight gain. Doctor changed me to letrozole. On it for 7 months, I have the worst joint, muscle, and body aches. There are some days I can’t stand up on my legs. My arms, shoulders, and back hurt constantly, fatigue. 7 months ago, I used to walk 2 miles a day. Today I can’t even get on a treadmill for 5 minutes. I have been taken off letrozole, it’s only been a week."

• Bus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2020

Letrozole "Caused me weight gain, serious hot flashes, did not have joint pain, headaches, or dizziness before starting this medication. I know these are listed possible side effects, however, these do cause some functionality issues."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2017

"I hate this drug. I hate everything it is doing to me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, hormone - estrogen. Surgery was successful, lymph nodes clear. We caught it very early. I participated in a radiation study, 5 treatments of partial breast radiation. I want off, I wake up tired, I go to bed tired, I manage to function through my day. My sweats and hot flashes are worse than ever before. They were almost done. Joint pain every day, back, hips, fingers, shoulders, etc. I have no idea of how long they want me on it. I am researching foods to eliminate from my diet that promote the production of hormones and estrogen."

• Joa...
• April 3, 2017

"I was diagnosed with stage 1 hormone receptor breast cancer in January 2016. I had 20 radiation treatments. I've had chronic back pain for about 20 years. At first, I took Arimidex, and my pain got worse. I got pain in my left groin and muscles in the back and front of my legs. I went to PT for 3 months, and the minute I stopped, all the pain came back with a vengeance. I took myself off, but the pain never went away. Now I'm on Femara. I still have pain in my back, both hips, right groin this time, and my left shoulder and down my right leg. I've had a month of PT with no improvement. Has anyone had pain so bad you can't walk? It goes away for a day, then comes back for 3, then goes away again?"

• Gon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 2, 2018

Letrozole "1.7 years, loss of hair, hot flashes, shoulder, elbow, hip pain, dry mouth, high cholesterol, high glucose, high BP... But if it keeps cancer from returning, the side effects, hopefully temporary, will have been worth it."

• gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2016

"Used for 4.6 years. Experienced many common side effects. Most disappeared after a brief amount of time. Stretching and exercising 6 days a week seems to be very effective. Drink lots of water. Feel that I am 11 lbs over - but I am 66 so maybe that would have happened anyway. Unable to locate information on withdrawal symptoms when I discontinue Jan 1, 2017. Hope to drop the extra weight... My wonderful Oncology team and Amazing Primary Dr. both assure me there are no withdrawal symptoms."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2015

Letrozole "I have recently started taking Femara. The first few days were really tough. I had muscle pain and was very emotional, and horrible perineal dryness. I would cry about anything. These symptoms have pretty much gone away after day 4. Now after a month, my main side effects seem to be evening fatigue (I would really like to go to bed at 6:30 pm) and fuzzy thinking. During the first couple of days of taking this medicine, I had my doubts if I would continue, but now I think with time I will find ways to work around the side effects. They really aren't that bothersome."

• Anonymous
• November 11, 2012

"I am 40 years old and I have been taking Letrozole for about a year. I found a lump shortly after my son was born 5 years ago. I had chemo, radiation, and was put on tamoxifen. I had a recurrence in the lymph node in Dec of 2011, and the oncologist took me off tamoxifen and put me on letrozole. I am suffering from joint pain, memory loss, very fatigued all the time, depression, hot flashes. I do very little for myself since my children are only 9 and 5 years old. I feel I need to take care of them first before I can do anything for myself. I am hoping the letrozole will give me more hope than tamoxifen. I'm preventing a recurrence. I need to be around a lot longer for my beautiful children."

• Ama...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 13, 2017

"My fourth year on Letrozole. Diagnosed with breast cancer stage 2 hormone-estrogen positive in 2014. Opted for double mastectomy, no spread to lymph nodes, they also started the expanders right after double mastectomy. No chemo or radiation. Put on Letrozole, I noticed the weight gain right away, for me it is all in my stomach, looks like I am pregnant! I walk 3 miles 4 times a week and am very active. I did okay the first two years, but after the third year, every bone in my body hurts, especially my left hip which radiates down on the side of my leg. I take magnesium and vitamin D. I keep telling myself, just 24 more months on this med, but now I hear that they think 5 years may not be long enough!!!"

• Let...
• April 14, 2016

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 2, invasive ductal carcinoma in Dec. 2014. Cancer was found in lymph nodes; I had a lumpectomy at the end of January, then chemo from March to June. After a one-month break, I went for 5 weeks of daily radiation treatments, followed by a 1-week boost treatment in 3 areas (underarm, cervical, and breast). My oncologist put me on letrozole; I have been on it for 2 years this June, and the only side effect I am currently experiencing is stiffness and leg pain at night in bed. I asked the oncologist what happens after the 5 years of letrozole; she said perhaps there would be another drug on the market - there are not enough studies about long-term use of letrozole."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2018

Letrozole "Daily hot flashes and night sweats seem to be my worst side effects, especially when I'm hit with intense anxiety every time. My scalp is tender, and I've had hair thinning. I also have pain in my joints. But I do not want the cancer to come back. Invasive lobular carcinoma. Bilateral mastectomy."

• Mar...
• April 28, 2015

"I hope that it is keeping me from having cancer with all the problems that it is causing. I had stage 2 grade 2B breast cancer and had a mastectomy followed by 6 months of chemo and 6 weeks of daily radiation. I really didn't have that many side effects from chemo and radiation. But being on the letrozole has been a pain. The fatigue is getting to me. I might as well go into hibernation for 5 years. I sleep all the time. It is very hard to focus on my job where I am a manager. I have a lot of joint pain and I am trying glucosamine juice. Someone else told me about loins juice. Does anyone have any ideas on what to do about the fatigue? I take the pill at night, but I cannot get out of bed in the morning."

• DOT...
• September 26, 2015

Letrozole "Stage I breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy, no nodes involved. No chemo, I chose no radiation. Been on Zoladex and Femara, so far, very few side effects. But of course, I'm just now starting on my second week of use. I recommend you get blood work done to check for vitamin deficiencies and address them, it will keep your side effects at a minimum."

• Diz...
• November 9, 2016

"Aged 76. I have been taking Letrozole for 2 years. I was very tired at first, but that was probably a result of chemotherapy. I still get weary, but it’s not bad. Initially, I had weird dreams, but these have eased. My hair is quite thin but improving. A bone scan shows no osteoporosis. I walk the dog daily and take calcium chews. I had heard that people experience side effects, but honestly, I don't. My GP tells me Letrozole is the 'Gold Standard,' and I am really thankful it is available. At least I am alive!"

• lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2015

"After stage 2 breast cancer/unilateral mastectomy, I took tamoxifen for 2 years, then switched to Femara about 4 months ago. My oncologist said this was largely because Femara is kinder to my kidneys. I truly hope the Femara is doing its job, because my fingers are stiff and swollen, and they hurt when I bend them. I now have 2 - 3 trigger fingers, depending on temperature and time of day, and I truly understand what a reviewer called 'Walter Brennan walk'! Stiff legs after sitting for as little as 5 minutes, and as an artist, pianist, and admin, this is definitely a quality of life issue for me. I am going to speak with my doctor again - he agreed that this was a side effect, but it's getting worse quickly, along with slight weight gain and low energy levels."

• Had...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2015

"After having a doctor prescribe hormones for me for 12 years, even though I only had a partial hysterectomy, I developed breast cancer. When it was found, I was at advanced stage 3 with a tumor just short of a size 8 in my chest wall and left lymph nodes. After massive chemotherapy for 6 months, it shrunk to a size 2, then came the double mastectomy and nodes removed, followed by 30 hits of heavy radiation. This all began in May of 2013, and now in October of 2015, I am in total remission. I am so thankful to my doctors, however, the side effects of all of the treatments and continued treatment of letrozole are awful. I feel 90 and have sudden bouts where I can't breathe and hurt all over. I hate it."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2018

"I have been taking this for two months, and my whole body aches. It is horrible. I don't know if I can do this for five years without the Lord's help. I had a mastectomy of my left breast-no chemo and no radiation-caught it early. The doctor said I have to take this pill for five years, and if the hot flashes, body aches, and memory issues do not get better, I may have to stop. When I see my doctor next, I will tell her my symptoms. She actually told me that the side effects are little, and I will tell her that she is wrong on all counts."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 5, 2013

"Some muscle and bone pain, but nothing unbearable. Weight gain... joining a gym. The closest thing to a hot flash is a pin prickly sensation. Overall happy with this so far... 9 months down, 51 more to go."

• Mas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2017

"Magnesium is key! I want everyone to know that the achiness goes away when I take magnesium. I'm taking 500 mg from a good vitamin company. Not sure if it's okay to put brand names here. I gained 20 lbs, and none of my carefully acquired clothes fit: big bummer. But it's still better than getting cancer again. Going to start exercising more as I recover from oophorectomy. I'm eating veggies like crazy. Bilateral mastectomy and six weeks of radiation; removal of ovaries and tubes."

• Jas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2016

"I have been on letrozole for a year now. My issues are some hot flashes, increased vaginal atrophy/dryness (getting pretty bad), and I wake up in the middle of the night with painful and stiff fingers, but if I wiggle my fingers around, it goes away. I think they get painful and stiff from not being moved while I am asleep. They are not too bad during the day, but the tendinitis I had prior to taking letrozole that affected the base of my thumbs got worse. I am currently in clinical trials to assess the usefulness of acupuncture for the joint pain and stiffness. I am hoping this will turn out to be a solution for women who find the joint pain unbearable."

• ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2016

"Have been taking letrozole for about 6 months after being on tamoxifen for 2 years. (I felt great on tamoxifen.) My energy levels have decreased, so I have to try to pace myself and give in if I can't do as much as before. My knees/legs ache, and I also seize up a bit if I sit too long. I feel it's aged me, but I am here with my boys, and that's all that matters. I have loads of hot flushes, but I wear layers. I am trying to stay healthy, walking a lot and doing Pilates. I don't think my body could handle the gym as my bones are thinning due to these drugs. I did become vegan after the initial cancer diagnosis, but now I have a bit of organic milk in my tea and cheese occasionally. My hair has not thinned. Good luck, let's hope they find a cure soon."

• Mar...
• August 14, 2018

"I had stage 2 HER2-positive breast cancer. Did 5 rounds of chemo that made me so sick. Heavy bouts of diarrhea almost constantly and lost 20 lbs after 2 months of radiation every day. In 2015 I started letrozole, and at first it was nothing, now I feel so much joint pain in the early morning and then at night. I feel like I got hit by a truck. Stairs are unbelievably hard to master during this time. I’ve gained at least 20 lbs, which is hard to believe because I eat small portions. I have mentioned this to my oncologist team, and they don’t believe weight is a side effect. Wrong! It is most definitely. 2 more years to go, hopefully, there’s some improvement. I will take magnesium as suggested, we’ll see."

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2016

"I started letrozole 5 months ago. I take it at night. My side effects have been minimal compared to what it is doing for me (hopefully). I started with terrible leg aches at night for a couple of months, and they are now gone. My hands and ankles are really stiff in the morning, my body feels a bit beat up, and I had a vaginal discharge for about 4 months that finally stopped. Also, my pap came back abnormal due to the hormone changes my body is going through, so don't freak out right away if that happens. All normal! My doc has also put me on Alendronate Sodium tablets once a week to help with my bones and to prevent bone cancer. I just started getting back into working out with some weights and a treadmill, and that is helping for sure."