Who do I need to contact?

I had lumpectomy end of January and started letrozole end of February. Went for planning scan last week and radiotherapy starting at end of month. At the moment I am feeling tired a lot of the time and get bad pain in some joints. I had some arthritis before but nowhere this bad and for this length of time. For the past few days I have been so low and flat, the slightest things makes the tears start to flow. I mentioned it to oncology doctor two weeks ago and she said it will wear off. There are tons of hot flushes as well it all probably seems a lot as I didn't get any of this with menopause. Today it felt like enough was enough and honestly couldnt see me sticking with the meds for 10 years but I don't know who to contact to talk to. My breast clinic is in one town half an hour away, my radiotherapy and oncology doctor is a 2 hour bus ride away.  I also have hearing issues that mean I need face to face as difficult to use the phone. 

  • Hello and thank you for posting. I am so sorry you are struggling at this time.

    Side effects of hormone therapies like letrazole can take time to settle into your system, and for some this can take longer. This is very different for everyone and some find this an incredibly hard time.

    Knowing that there others out there who are going through similar can help. Do think about posting on the side effects thread on our forum or the Breast Cancer Now forum where others discuss this subject. There may also be some face to face support groups that can could help you too like the Moving Forward programme.

    We have tips to help with side effects if at all helpful. This page is about bone and joint pain, this one covers mood changes and this goes through tiredness (fatigue).

    Please do talk to your breast care nurse or GP before thinking about giving up the hormone treatment. Your breast care nurse may be able to organise a zoom call, a facetime call or give you an email address to help support you despite your hearing problem.

    Take care,

    Sarah.