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Letrozole for breast cancer.

macmac
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I was taking Letrozole for about nine monthswhen my hands began to be very painful. A nerve conduction study showed carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands and I prepared for surgery. I looked up the side-effects of Letrozole and carpal tunnel syndrome was one of them . My oncologist suggested a drugs holiday (now some 18 months from first taking it). It was significant- my hands improved after about two weeks- no longer woken at night with severe hand pain and able to grip things again and being able to feel objects properly was terrific. The best is that I no longer need surgery. Am now on Exemesetane and hoping the CTS does not return.

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    Hello macmac, 

    Thank you for sharing your experience whilst on Letrozole. I am so glad that your hands improved after taking a break from letrozole and it's great news that you no longer need surgery. Hopefully all this is behind you now and it won't return! It looks like it was a side effect of the drug and sharing your experience here will be really useful to others who may be experiencing the same thing and may be wondering what has caused this. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Hi,

    I am also suffering from hand problems, carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger which is getting worse and both hands have lost their grip. I am also getting bone pain on my legs and feet. All of which are on the list of side effects of Letrozole treatment.  I have been taking Letrozole for eighteen months now.  My doctor offered me a cortisone injection for the trigger finger but I whimped out at the thought of it. I have had arthritis for many years and I have now upped my pain medication and started taking them regularly instead of when I remembered and I am managing quite well, I think.  I hope so!  
    Thank you for posting this, as it is reassuring to know that if I need to, I can do something about it, rather than just putting up with it.

    C x

     

  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    I'm very pleased to have helped. CTS is very hard to deal with and I would have had surgery. I'm sorry to hear about your other side-effects and hope that you get some relief from them. My hands,so far, are doing well and my grip is a lot better.

    mxx

  • Offline in reply to macmac

    I am so please to see these posts, I had told my Oncologist , but they did not seem that the Letrizole had any significance to my CTS

    I have had CTS confirmed by my GP both hands, I will  now go back to my Oncologist for a drug review. 
    thank you for everyone's input

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    Hello sheltie lady.I too have a trigger finger I put it down to the gardening far too much pruning & saeing of logs. Started years before the letrazole as only been on that for 8 weeks. I have had steroid injection worked for a while a bit nippy but tolerable. Lasted some time but still locks just no pain. Hoping to reassure you. Now I don't worry about falling from the ladder,like I did before. 

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