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 

Update my Doc took new blood test after I stopped taliking Letrozole. My liver enzymes had risen whilst on it, they went back to normal once I stopped taking it! . No more Letorzole for me, still have bone pain 

I found it took about 6 or 7 weeks after stopping the medication for bone & joint pain/stiffness to cease.

Hi Claire,

You're lucky in that your bone and joint pain have gone. I stopped taking Letrozole in July 2017. I had 2 knees replaced while I was taking it and, I still get severe joint and bone pain.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I stopped taking Letrozole in 2017 after too much bone pain, I had a shoulder replacement in 2018, a knee replacement in 2019 and my other knee is being done in January 2020. So many reports of bone pains yet still it is prescribed.

for a while I took nothing then a new consultant gave a different drug

I now take aromasin also called EXEMESTANE .

dont just suffer, talk to your consultants, there are alternatives out there ladies.

Hello, I've just been diagnosed and need a lumpectomy. I'm eighty three and about to start on Letrozole. The side effects sound frightening so I came online and found this chat room. It seems like I'm right to be worried! I don't know whether to start on the pills or not. I'm not sure at my age whether I am strong enough for the operation and radiotherapy - mentally or physically.

I wondered if anyone regrets coming off, or going on, Letrozole, and if anyone my age has any information generally.

I would say have the lumpectomy & then radiotherapy if you need it.  It doesn't happen together.  They wait until you're healed.  Radiotherapy didn't start till 3 months after op for me.  They need to examine what they remove to make sure they've clear margins & if you need further treatment.  If the tumour is oestrogen positive/receptive then you get prescribed, in my case, Letrozole then Anastrozole then Tamoxifen.  The new one is Exemestane.  Letrozole is to reduce the oestrogen level which the cancer feeds upon.  At 83 I don't think I would start Letrozole.  Unless it is to shrink it before removal?

I would say have the lumpectomy & then radiotherapy if you need it.  It doesn't happen together.  They wait until you're healed.  Radiotherapy didn't start till 3 months after op for me.  They need to examine what they remove to make sure they've clear margins & if you need further treatment.  If the tumour is oestrogen positive/receptive then you get prescribed, in my case, Letrozole then Anastrozole then Tamoxifen.  The new one is Exemestane.  Letrozole is to reduce the oestrogen level which the cancer feeds upon.  At 83 I don't think I would start Letrozole.  Unless it is to shrink it before removal?

I'm using EXEMESTANE with not much in side effects, few hot flushes. I had Anastrozole then Letrozole then tamoxifen and gave up in despair.  A new consultant gave me EXEMESTANE. I'm just coming up to my five years and will be 70 next year.