Hello Kebb, 

It's great to hear you are suffering no ill effects at all yay! Perhaps you could talk to your doctor or specialist and update them on how well you are doing at the moment and whether it is ok for you to keep taking the tablets every other day or if you should consider upping the dose. 

I hope that you will hear from others on the forum who are also taking Letrozole  and that they will be along shortly to share their experiences with you. I did a little search for you and found that [@MB01]‍  commented recently on this thread and mentioned taking letrozole with minimal side effects so she would be a good person for you to exchange notes with on the subject. You can also do a search for relevant threads on the subject by clicking on the 'search forum' option on the blue banner at the top and typing in the words "letrozole". 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Kebbs

Like you I am also on letrozole, as I am a very compliant gal am taking it every day! It does give me some aches & pains and I have found that the level of these does differ depending on the brand (as many others do), sounds bonkers but that's just how it is. Not sure when you take your tablet but the time taken can also help manage any side effects (were you to start getting any) - I take mine on an evening as the side effects are at their worst for X hours after so am ok-ish by the morning (stiff but knees much better).  I don't notice any mood impact but am such an annoyingly positive person not sure I'd notice!

Re the impact on your bones I am osteopenic and have bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid infusion every 6 months) which helps take the calcium from your body (take prescribed high strength calcium too) & rebuild the bones, thereby counteracting the impact of the letrozole and can also help prevent cancer in dem bones!  These may be annual infusions you refer to???

It is a choice and if my side effects were to be worse than I would think twice about taking or the frequency of taking the tablets but given the side effects are very manageable and do not impact my quality of life then I'll crack on to do what I can to stop that blummin' cancer in its tracks.

There's quite a few discussion threads on the topic of letrozole brands over on the MacMillan forum also if you want to read others experiences.

Sam

Hello Sam,

sorry it's taken me so long to respond to your interesting reply to me. 

Yes I take my meds at night too. It seems the best time to me. I have only ever taken Femara as I have just never fancied the generic tablet at all. You sound as if you have tried a few brands?? Is that right?  Many people on here state they have had horrible side affects with differing brands of Letrozole and not so bad with others. Odd how this can be really. 

I do think about taking Femara every day as prescribed. I am really pleased I am managing it as well as I am though. Never really been a one to do as I am told which in this instance isn't that helpful!! I get that. Will definitely work on trying to do better!  I truly don't want of course another cancer nightmare. 
 

Yes the annual infusion I have is Zoledronic acid and it does give some protection from bone cancer whilst strengthening our bones. I have osteoporosis very lightly. (-2.5 which is only just on the line of being counted as a person with osteoporosis) So I feel taking the extra high strength calcium, Vit D and having the infusions plus doing weight bearing exercises will all keep me relatively safe in the future. Hoping so anyway!!! 
 

Please  keep in touch and let me know how you are going. I wish you well and thanks again for your reply. 
 

Kebbs x 
 

Hi I have been prescribed Letrozole and a bisphosphate drip every 6 months for5 years to counteract the bone loss but am not convinced that that is right for me after looking at the Predict site

Thanks Lorraine.

I have been put into a clinical trial as I am cancer free at the moment,.a part of the tumour that was removed has been sent to USA where they will see if any cells could be  potentially cancerous. Until I get the results back (2 weeks) I will not take the tablets. I will keep everyone informed. 

Kindest Regards xx

Taking letrozole daily and supplemental calcium vit d, I am fully aware of the increased risk to cardiovascular disease with breast cancer treatment and how calcium supplement will increase that risk. Research shows letrozole must be taken daily or it does not offer the protection required.The aches bone wise is difficult but should settle after 6 months hence why I am sticking to it ,I have been taking the drug since May 2021,so 6 months now, at present the bones still ache first thing in morning. The side effect of nausea is now lessening unless I forget to eat then it returns. I also now take 1000.g  x 4 cbd sativa in gel capsules and this is fabulous for pain. I take plant sterols to reduce cholesterol as letrozole increases this. I have lowered it significantly.i also take DIM and calcium d glutamate as I know this lowers oestrogen but also supports bone formation. Hope this helps.

Im going to be starting letrozole after I've had radiotherapy. I'm dreading it! I already suffer with joint pain but am otherwise healthy. I feel like I'm going to be poisoning my body, giving myself High blood pressure and cholesterol when I've never had those issues. Am I going to hasten the descent into old age?

Hi. I have just bought Plant Sterols because my cholesterol is high due to Letrozole.  Can I ask how many you take? Thanks