Thank you Happyfeet1. It's so nice to speak to ssomeone who understands. You're right, I was just saying to my husband that it might not be Anastrozole causing the symptoms & will chat to my GP later if I can. Sorry you have the fatigue but glad to hear you have been able to overcome it to a degree. I walk a lot too and do agility with my dog so perhaps this has disguised other symptoms. I'm not due to see the oncologist till May so may ring him if this continues. Thanks again for your support xx
Well an update is had my surgery in December, masectomy and reconstruction, all went very well and the treatment from the NHS was amazing
as caught early chemo and radiation was not recomended but I started Letrozole 2 months ago and was releaved i was not experiencing the bad side effectsi had heard about, however for the last 2 week i have taken a real nose dive, aching joints, buzzing feet, extreme tiredness, sore dry eyes and skin,feeling so depressed and down to , which is unlike me, i dread the fact this will go on for years
Sorry I can't be more positive, but my experience with L was pretty much the same, I was fine for first 3 months, (Cipra brand) was next given Sun Pharma, and joints started to 'crack' 3months later I was relieved to be given another brand (Manx) hoping for a change, but everything became so much worse, fatigued, stiff, pain in hip and knee, tingling feet etc, by the time I was due my McMillan care assessment I was struggling with stairs, the BCN organised a 3 week break and move to Tamoxifen, but after 2 months I wasn't happy with the Gynae side effects I seemed to be having, so I stopped 2 weeks ago and will begin Letro. again tomorrow, beginning with alternate days, and with a different brand, Accord, (BCN had told me brands can make a difference) The original pain from L. which BCN had said was Arthritis caused by meds, is less, but still persists however I am willing to give it another go until my oncology appt. in May where I'll have a lot more questions to ask. (My sister took each of these meds during her treatment and was lucky to have had no side effects whatsoever!!) I also intend to take tart cherry supplement which is supposed to help, and if pain becomes unbearable again will ask GP for help....I really hope you find a solution...
I had the same, caught early and no radiotherapy but have bad joint pains with Letrozole. Accord is the best of the bunch but still not easy. I was switched to Exemestane but this was worse. Diarrhoea and even worse joint pain so back on Letrozole. Price we have to pay I guess! I have tried Voltarol on joints but not sure if it helps or exhaustion sends you to sleep! Only very bad at night, daytime it is tolerable.
Not much help for you but keep at it and in time, it may improve. Good luck! this forum keeps you sane when you know you are not alone!
Hi there. i sympathize with your situation. mine is a similar story. lumpectomy and sentinal node excision in October 2020 radiotherapy every day for a week. anatrozole for the next 5 years. no real problems with any of the above.......till now 3 months on and this week has been terrible. feeling heavy in my head with dizziness, feeling tired and miserable, with stiff neck and achy joints (that's not like me). i find that exercise helps with the joint pain but feel very old all of a sudden. hoping things will settle down. have started taking collegen supplements and ashwaganda to see it this helps. will let you know if there is any improvement
Very sorry to hear you're feeling so rotten Bluestar2. My experience is almost exactly the same as yours but put on Anastrozole. It's so sad to hear of everyone having these side effects especially after seeming fine for a couple of months or so after beginning their drug regime. I was thinking of asking to change to Letrozole when I see my oncologist in May but now I'm not so sure. Interestingly, in contrast to many reports on this page, my (lovely) GP says my recent dizzy spells (see above) arre highly unlikely to have been caused by Anastrozole after 6 weeks of being ok!! And also that there's unlikely to be any difference between brands.....
I have had a lumpectomy, FEC-T chemo and I am due to start radiotherapy and then go onto tamoxifen for 10 years. I am thinking about refusing hormone treatment as I am desperate for my body to get back some kind of normality. I am 44. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Has anyone else refused?
