Letrazole

Hi  , hopefully you’ll get answers from people on both sides of the fence! I’m on Anastrozole which is similar to letrozole. I don’t love it and will be glad to finish (have been on it for nearly 6 years and should finish next year), but I’ve kept popping the pills as I feel I want to take anything offered, to reduce my risk of recurrence. I did end up retiring early due to side effects and I know I was lucky to have that as an option. There are folk on this forum who seem to escape with no or minimal side effects from the various hormone treatments, but I guess we hear from them less. And there are definitely some who decided not to take them. Hope you can get a variety of points of view here to help you to decide. I’d also just throw in that I’d consider it well worth at least starting to take them and see if you are affected. And also that there’s the option to try different ones if necessary. Love and hugs, HFxx

Hi, I've been on letrozole for over 3 years.  I tolerate it reasonably well.  It has given me mildly sore joints, but 10,000 steps a day really helps. My cholesterol is up, which is a side effect,  but my GP is not worried about that.  For me, the reassurance that I am doing something to prevent recurrence as best I can is worth it.  Best wishes 

Hi. 

I've been on Letrozole since June and apart from fatigue and flushes was ok until two months ago when the joint pain started. My knees were really bad for about 3 weeks and still not great now if I walk a lot but it's getting better slowly. I'm on it until Christmas then they're going to decide if the side effects are still happening, for me to have a Letrozole holiday for a month and then restart it to see if there's improvement or if I need a different tablet. I'm taking it to have 'belt and braces' just to be certain it doesn't come back or at least have the best chance of it not coming back. 

I met a lady on the Moving Forward course on Monday who decided not to take it as she didn't want it to affect her quality of life and being on her own, didn't want to be restricted because of the side effects. She also took her age into consideration too. It's a difficult decision but you have to do what's best for you after considering all options, I think. 

All the best. x

I'm 2 months the other side of a single mastectomy. I decided not to take it much to my surgeon's despair. I read the stories on here and heard from others outside this website too. For me it was an easy decision. I understand it as a belts and braces preventative treatment and I don't even want to contemplate the side effects that people are having. I will always choose quality of life over longevity. It doesn't even feel like a risk. You should always do what feels right for you and take your time to get to the decision that's right for you.

I was dreading taking Letrozole but I have now been taking it for about 6 weeks.  I had a bad back for 3 days which I think was due to Letrozole, but since then I have had none of the possible side effects.  I also know another lady who took it for several years with no ill effects.  I would say give it a try.  If you have bad side effects, I believe that there are alternatives available. I know a lady who did not get on with Letrozole and changed to another drug which she was fine with.

Hi, I’ve been on Letrozole for 15 months now. This was following 5yrs on Tamoxifen. I was incredibly lucky with Tamoxifen. However I have had a few side effects with Letrozole. Very strangely my elbow joints were incredibly sore. Menopausal symptoms went crazy. My GP prescribed me with sertraline. Which is an antidepressant, but also works with menopause symptoms.I do feel better now, but it has taken along time to settle into Letrozole. My thought process is that I’ve been prescribed the medication to follow on from Tamoxifen. So I will preserve with it. 
Good luck in whatever you decide. 

Hi I’m about to start this tablet soon after I have my radio therapy next week, and I have also been told about horrible side affects and am dreading taking them, but I am going to give them a try and see how I get on , because otherwise you will never know if they would have effective you badly or not , as people have said you can always try other alternatives if there not for you , but I’m worried about taking them because of going back to work as well after having breast surgery and 2 lymph nodes removed which were not cancerous, but I’m going to try them , every one is different and yes you have to do what’s right for you, I wish you luck, maybe talk it through with cancer nurse for some reassurance. good luck 

I am glad to hear that you are going to give it a try. I did have some side effects aches,and pains and hot flushes. I found it varied according to the make. My GP has prescibed "Accord " make if possible ,but they appear to be in short supply at the moment. The pharmacist has been able to supply me with  "Glenmark " recently which I have found to be almost as good as the "Accord" with regards to side effects. I have been taking Letrozole since 2020  Best wishes to you on your journey.

Hello! I have been taking Letrozole for over a year now, and have had NO discernible side effects whatsoever! I have had several different manufacturers' Letrozole , and again, no apparent side effects or problems. It's also a tiny tablet, which is great for me as I struggle to swallow tablets and capsules. The trick is to take the Letrozole straight on top of a meal each day. I take mine after breakfast. I do believe this minimises any potential side effects. I'd say try it. You can always go back to your doctor and try a different tablet if this one doesn't suit you? (As a sideline, nobody would ever take paracetamol if you read the potential side effects!! It's always about balancing risks versus benefits.........) Good luck to you.

Hi, I seem to alternate between Sun Pharma and Accord in terms of brands and both seem very similar to me.