Letrozole - dull headaches after 8 days off

Hi Isaa62abbb

My name is Kathryn and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

Welcome to the online community. I hope you’re finding it helpful to share your experience with us. You may be interested in reaching out to others in a similar situation by joining the breast cancer forum.

I am sorry to hear that you have been struggling with the side effects of letrozole.

If you haven’t already spoken to your specialist nurse or consultant, then you should contact them and explain to them that you have had an ongoing headache for the past 4 days.  Headaches aren’t a common side effect of stopping letrozole, but it can cause a change in hormone levels in some people, which may trigger headaches. Your treatment team can help determine the cause of your headaches and recommend appropriate management strategies. 

You said the letrozole has been paused due to joint pain, you may find the information on joint and muscle pain from hormone treatment helpful on our website. Your cancer doctor can refer you to a physiotherapist if you are having lots of problems. Try to strengthen the muscles around your joints by keeping active with regular exercise as this can help keep them flexible and reduce pain.

Some people find complimentary therapies can help with pain control, speak to your treatment team before accessing complementary therapies or starting any new exercise programme.

I hope this information has been useful, please contact us whenever we can help. 

Take care.  

Kathryn

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist  

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. Ref: KR/IY

Thank you for your reply, i will contact my team tomorrow about the head aches . I am thinking its to do with the hormone levals coming back up as in the past i would have monthly headaches . I am to see them in clinic in a few weeks time to re think the help for me.

Joint and muscle pain would become worse as the day went on to the point i was in tears with pain even with the normal pain relief, the phiso i was seeing for another matter was unable to help.