Hello Lovely Ladies - Im newly diagnosed & today im starting my Letrozole

Morning and welcome to the community none of want to be a member of, but under the circumstances it is the best place to be. It has helped me no end throughout all this poopiness.

I don't take any meds as my breast cancer was triple negative, but i'm sure some of our lovely people will give you lots of advice. 

I want to say how lucky are you that you had a scan and they found the cancer, i think of myself lucky as i was sent for an early mammogram at 47 and they found mine. But how can anybody be lucky finding out they have cancer. But at least they know its there now and they can get rid of it.

Ask lots of questions, even if you think they are silly ones, you will find more times than not they aren't silly and someone else is wondering the same or the same has happened to them.

You don't just need to come and ask questions though, come and rant, cry, scream and sometimes we even have a laugh. 

Take Care xx

HI , 

I started taken Letrozole last Friday, so far so good, I read a few of the SE’s and tbh stopped reading. Just going to take a day at a time.

I had a mastectomy, then Chemo, which finished end of April. Moving on to Radiotherapy soon.

Macmillan have been wonderful. Had a lovely Look Good, Feel Great session and I’m now in a group which meet every month and have a brew and chat and then a healing session, meditation or reiki at a reduced price, it’s great if you like that sort of thing.

Best wishes Tina x

Hi Florri

I have been on Letrozole for a year (only 9 to go!) Ive experienced the aching joints and the occasional hot flush My GP has given me Gabapentin for the aches which seems to help and keeping moving helps too if you can. I also take the Letrozole in the evening. Hope this helps. Stay positive.

Julie

Hi all, 

Im a bit concerned now about one of the potential side effect of Letrozole being hair loss as after chemo, which I finished end of last month, I don’t have any hair, just noticing tiny new hairs sprouting last week and stared taking the tablet last Friday.

Anyone else had new hair growth and hair grow back well while on Letrozole x x

Hi

I'm on Letrozole after neo adjuvent chemo and surgery.  My hair is growing back but it is very slow. After 6 months it has made it to about an inch long.   My hair was always fine and not sure yet whether it is thinner than previously.  Certainly not thicker!  

Pic is after 12 months of letrozole (and 16 months after chemo, I did use the cold cap but still lost about 50%of my hair, and then I had to have it cut really short because it wasn't in great condition). So no I have not noticed any hair thinning.

Aching joints lasted a few months but now another year down the line, I don't even notice them.

Cwtches, 

Gay xxx

P.S I didn't realise the picture would be sooooo BIG 

Hi,

i haven’t had chemo but have needed Letrozole. My hair definitely thinned (I had very thick hair, my hairdresser reached for her thinning scissors the moment I walked in!) and has thickened up again a bit BUT gone from a bit wavy to really quite curly, and as it’s silver I have grown the layers a little and am simply celebrating it! My surgical team all day it’s not supposed to do that, but it has!

hugs xxx

WoW! You look absolutely fantastic and your hair is very thick Gay. Is this photo after the hair lose regrowth ? 

Did you have a Masectomy? I've been told that I may have to take the Letrozole from 5years up to 10 years.

How did you find the cold cap ? At least you were able to keep 50% of your hair and it looks fabulous !!! 

Thank you for your reply Gay really is much appreciated.

Florri xxx 

Hi Moony 

How long did you take Letrozole for and has your hair grown back ? I'm lucky to have thick hair also but have recently list about 50% due to acute Appendicitis- it's only just stopped falling out then discovered I've got Breast Cancer.

If I have to have Chemo I'm going to try the Cold Cap although I've been told that some hair loss does happen even with Cold Cap.

 I've heard that hair regrowth grows back curly. Do you like your new hair Mooney ? Sounds super !.

Thankyou for your reply Moony. 

Florri xxx 

Hi Florri, 

Yes I had my hair cut very short after treatment. I did keep a lot after the cold cap but i did lose quite a lot and in some areas my hair was different lenghts. The cold cap was fine, not as bad as I was expecting. Just take in some cardies as you sometimes feel cold all over! My hair was naturally lstraight the curls are from chemo. Two years after chemo now and my lovely curls are dropping out. 

Yes I had a mastectomy, then chemo, radio and an oophorectomy. I was told letrozole for 10 years, just over 8 more to go!

Cwtches, 

Gay xxx