Letrozole

Owww wow ohmyG, this is a question that affects all of us taking letrozole.  

I am nearly '2' years in, I was told I would be on it for '5' years.  Thankfully my side effects are not severe at present, I have had times when I have thought about taking half a tablet, however, I have the same worries going though my mind 'what if'.  

Your question 'do you want to do another five?' .....

Have you been given the choice?
Do you know percentage rates for benefits of continuing?

My thoughts are, this is a damed if you do - damed if you don't.

If you are offered to continue for another 5 years and you didn't take it - how would you feel 'if' something happened?
If you are 'not' offered to continue - how will you feel "not taking the tablet"?

I am sorry, I can't give any more advice or help, this is a question that I have thought about many times.

Let's hope ladies that have trod this path before us can come forward and offer some thoughts on this.

Sending love and hugs xxxx

Hi ohmyG

I'm not on Letrozole (Anastrozole) and I was told 5 years.  My sister in law in 2007 was told the same and she was taken off the Anastreozole in 2012.  In 2013 she collapsed and the cancer had returned to her chest wall /bones.  She'd previously had a mastectomy and was grade 3.  She passed in 2014, but she wasn't given the option of any more years.  I have read somewhere that they lose their effectiveness after 5 years but if they are still reducing oestrogen, then I can't see why they would lose their effectiveness.

I know her diagnosis initially was hugely different from mine (and she had a lot of other medical issues - heart etc), but if I'm offered another 5 years - I'm going for it!

It strikes me as odd that when we are on medication to prevent the cancer we are monitored annually.  As soon as we are taken off it, we go to a 3 year scan.   But ..... there's nothing stopping us being 'concerned about something' at the usual annual time to get that annual check up eh?

Best wishes,

It’s a dilemma I’m so thankful to 

have had the opportunity to take 

Letrozole for five years and if there was 

concrete evidence to suggest I should 

stay on it I would.  I’ve been given three 

months off to see how I feel not taking

it. If I don’t feel a great change I will 

continue for five more  but if I feel like I 

used to without it then I will have to 

think hard x