Hi She,

Welcome to the forum.

I am sorry to hear about your experience with Letrozole. I had a lot of bother with my knees when taking Letrozole. One knee was certainly a lot more painful than the other. I eventually ended up having both knees replaced.

Have you discussed this with your care team? They can prescribe pain killers to help ease the situation for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi, I too have ended up with one knee replacement with my second due in January, I also had a shoulder replacement on the same side as my breast cancer and the specialist told me it was very common after radiotherapy.  My shoulders still ache in bed at night but my legs and knees are much better with Aromasin/Exemestene.  I felt very old when using Letrozole. I feel much better now.

Hi Snowdrops,

I'm now looking at hip replacements, despite having stopped taking Letrozole after 6 years, in July 2017. My knees are much better, but I still have pain in my arms, shoulders, back and legs. I agree that I felt very old too when I was taking Letrozole.

I hope that your second knee replacement goes well in January.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

glad I read this. I have been on anastrozole 3 years and complained of joint pain. Was given a month rest then put on letrozole. Oh my god been on it a month and I just want to lie down and die cannot take this pain any longer day and night. Constant headache shoulders hips knees feet hands. And I have a good pain threshold. Not taking it again 

Hi Jenny,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear of the problems that you've been having with Letrozole. Have a word with your care team before stopping it altogether. There are other medications that you could take instead.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Re: Letrozole

Hi everyone 

i have stage 3, invasive ductal carcinoma, hormone receptive in my right breast since July 2018. I am 59. Had chemo, lumpectomy, tested on 5 lymph nodes and 3 positive so back in for complete lymph removal and out of the 42 taken there was no cancer, thankfully. Radiation followed for 1 month and I have been on letrozole since Jan 2019, oncologist took me off them in August because the bone pain was so bad so I’m six weeks off it now. He is prescribing Tamoxifen which I’m due to start after I see him on Wednesday BUT I’m worried because he said it can cause blood clots!!!! Also the bone pain is still as bad hasn’t improved, my gp gave me oruvail tabs (anti-inflammatory) which did work for the first few days but not  now. The pain in my hands, shoulders and groin is unbearable. I was hoping to get back to work but just like you’ve said I feel so old, sleeping is tough with the pain and I wake in agony especially my hands. Now I’m dreading taking another inhibitor in case I get a stroke!! Also fed up taking more tablets for side effects. I’m going to ask for a PET scan to make sure that cancer hasn’t spread. Am I being ridiculous? I thought things were going great especially after chemo which was horrendous. Sorry for being such a moan! Hope you’re all doing good. Thanks x 

Hi Ellen,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I am sorry to hear of your experience with Letrozole, but glad to hear that you are moving on to something else in the way of treatment. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 9 & 10 years respectively. Both caused their own problems, but Tamoxifen generated fewer complications than Letrozole. I do hope that the Tamoxifen works well for you and, that your side-effects are fewer with it too.

It sounds as if you have had a hard time between radiotherapy, chemo and surgery. Having this all topped off by the side-effects you mention is never easy. Any one of us who have had a cancer diagnosis always lives in fear of recurrence. It is usual for further testing to be carried out a year after surgery and a certain time after chemo to see how effective treatment has been.

If you haven’t had any testing yet, you are quite right to ask for this to be done. I do hope that you get your pet scan and, that nothing untoward is found. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I too had invasive breast cancer & did a year on Letrozole which was more than enough, same side effects as yourself.  Then 3 years on anastrozole, which at first seemed slightly better but after 3 years I was crippled, like an old woman & I started to stop it, having breaks.  So my surgeon suggested Tamoxifen.  I was reluctant as had 2 friends who got problems with it.  But it has been the best thing for me.  After one month I didn't see any improvement in side effects, pains & stiffness, but after a couple of months, one day I just walked downstairs normally (as opposed to one legged :p) & since then much improvement.  I do get leg & foot cramps on an evening, but was prone to those in the summer anyway.  I've never worried about clots, although when I fly I always wear the operation stockings I kept.  I would recommed changing onto it.  My pains were that bad that I thought it had spread to my bones, so I'm not surprised you're concerned.

This is so true speak to your pharmacist I suffered debilitating trigger thumb so frightened of it happening in both hands. The brand of letrozole is important I am approaching 5 years since diagnosis it appears to have resolved. It saves your life but a nasty drug I advise don't stop