I was prescribed Anastrozole but after reading up on the side effects, I couldn’t bring myself to take it. My oncologist was very understanding and prescribed tamoxifen instead. I am about to start Tamoxifen, probably tomorrow morning. I am post menopausal so hoping the side effects will be minimal. I wonder when the side effects start....

Im 68 in a couple of weeks, so also post menopausal. I see a new oncologist on my birthday and if he pushes I will try Anastrozole again, with the benefit of hindsight it was not as bad as Letrozole or Tamoxifen. I didn’t read side effects first, but when I had muscle pains etc then I went looking for reasons, and finally my oncologist confirmed that these were all side effects but not everyone suffers them. He told me if we told you all these first you would not take the tablets, so ......

i wish you all the best.

Hi there, I’ve also been on letrizole since late Feb and gradually have devoloped this week mainly severe muscle pain around my pelvis and one shoulder arm and hand on my right side, can’t believe how quickly it has come on, also burning sensation in legs, have a telephone appt with Dr next Tuesday so hopefully will get some advice 

Hi All

Just finished my 10 year plan in May so no longer on the Letrozole this has ment the pain has gone except what I have in my breast. However my sweats are the same if not worse and there is not much the GP can give when no HRT. Any suggestions would be great even herbal ect. Thanks

Hi,

there is another thread on here simply called Letrozole with lots of useful info. I posted in June this year .

I struggled with Letrozole too, tried Anastrozole and Tamoxifen too. A new consultant has put me on Aromasin, also called Ezetimibe I think and i am much better. No muscle aches, but some hot flushes.

have a look at the other thread for things to talk to your consultant about. 

Good luck

sue

s

Hi there, that’s very interesting to know I would definitely rather have hot flushes compared to muscle and joint ache which I’m finding really hard to deal with, thanks so much for sharing the info and I will

Mo

Hi Snowdrop, love the name, hope after the winter.

I have been on Anastrzole for about a year, hot flushes and night sweating off the scale not nice but I can put up with it. 

The hair on the crown of my head ie male pattern baldness has thinned so much that my scalp is visible under lighting. This is really getting me down. Did you have this with the Letrozole or Aromasin? I am on the aspirin trial so fortunately I get to see the Oncologist every three months. I have done so much research and have found that the hair loss is probably due to a by-product DHT from taking the anti-cancer drugs. 

I have spoken to the trials nurse who kindly checked with one of the doctors to see if I could try a Trichologist system which inhibits the DHT but he was reluctant to agree. I will try to discuss in depth with my Oncologist in January but as you are aware they have limited time and hair loss is probably the last of their concern. 

Any help or advice would be gratefully received. 

Thank You

Hi Jan,

I have thinning hair too that as you say can be seen under lighting, I've always put it down to the chemo. It never really grew back as full as it used to be. I coloured my hair back to blonde as soon as possible and now my scalp is not so easily seen as when my hair was dark. I also use styling products such as mousse that add fullness. It does seem to follow male pattern baldness too. I'm not sure what help is available. I had a beautiful wig during chemo but I don't wear it now.

i had so many other problems with Letrozole that I never gave the hair thinning a thought. I now take Aromasin.

snowdrop is my favourite flower, and rather aptly was the name of the chemo unit I attended.

good luck

Hi Snowdrop,

After chemo [I am 15months post Chemo] my hair grew back much thicker and wavy it has been growing so quickly and then all of a sudden it started to get thinner, I was not loosing hair but it looks as though it has been thinning and stoped growing once it appeared through the scalp. Apparently ther are loads of hair folicles but they are not growing. I guess in one respect at 65 I still have my natural colour but I would gladly trade it for grey and all my hair. The pale scalp is the biggest problem especially under certain lights. 

My hairdresser used a powder called IQ on my hair it was amazing it gave body and lift, I have just ordered some plus coloured Keratin fibers.

On one of the other links a few people have said that GP's whilst prescribing the necessary drug do not always supply the same brand and as daft as it seems this can make a difference as the fillers used in the tablet manufature are not the same, it is a bit like butter you know it is butter but they all differ depending on how they are produced. 

I am collecting as much information to take back to my Oncologist at the beginning of January in the hope that we can help to solve the problem. 

It sounds ungrateful when they have saved my life but we have to be able to have a good quality of life and self esteem.

I will let you know if I have any luck as it may be helpful to you and others.

Thanks for replying.

Best Wishes