Hi Bragat17 I have just read your post 7 months ago. I was told this wed I have breast cancer and need tablets. 14-7 21 I am 77 and got both knees and hips replaced and stinosis of the spine insulin injections 3 times a day. Angina and very high blood pressure. I think I will give this treatment a miss I can hardly walk and lost my husband in 2020 and feel lost and carnt cope with upset. They want me to have both breasts off but do I want all this? I was happy to get to 80 and not doing anything might get me there. I do hope your on the mend now and feel less pain take care Zini I don’t understand a lot of the jargon yet x
You poor soul, what a lot to contend with! Don't give up as I am 73 and have had new knee and now have lymphoedema due to having nodes removed plus myriad other problems but I am still here! I would keep fighting as if they have told you they can get rid of it, while there's life there's hope!
Do keep fighting as there is always help out there if you need it. Good luck in whatever you decide and take care of yourself. x
Hi I am on my 70s, with osteoarthritis and high blood pressure, was Her2&ER+. I had chemo and then double mastectomy. Honestly the double mastectomy was probably the best bit. My only advice is insist on staying in hospital for at least one night, preferably two. They like to get you gone the same day but insist especially if there is no one at home. I am so sorry you have lost your husband, it is at times like these that we need those who love us and those we love around. Do take care and if there is a MacMillan office in your hospital that is open go to see them, they can be very helpful and supportive. Mine did a beauty pampering day and even at 70 it was great fun. The very best of luck and go with the flow, better times are surely round the corner. Will be thinking of you xx
I’ve posted in the main forum but just noticed this section and I’d like to post here too.
Picked up my first prescription of Letrozole at hospital pharmacy and it has Manx Healthcare on the box. From info on the leaflet in the box it appears that Manx is the marketing company which packages the pills, the actual drug manufacturer is Pharmadox in Malta. The pills are dark yellow and round with an imprint of letter ‘H’ on one side and the number ‘5’ on the other.
I have read posts of others having to insist on their usual brand of letrozole from pharmacies after finding differences in side effects between brands and cases where women have had to take whatever brand their pharmacy had in stock at the time. I really want to avoid such scenarios which is why I need to know which brand is in the Manx box.
The tablets are of Letrozole but just manufactured by different companies. It seems, then, they go to a distributor aqnd boxed with the distributing company name, ie Manx, then to Pharmacy to be dispensed to patient
So, all the available brands of Letrozole will have the same drug in it. However, each manufacturer is likely to use different fillers and it seems it's probably the fillers that make most different regarding how individuals tolerate them.
Most people will have no problems with whatever brand they take. We only hear, on the forum, of those with problems, ie a very small proportion although it would seem as if everyone had issues. They don't so it's best to try the ones you've been given, Manx, as they may well not cause you any issues.
However, if Manx does give you issues, then try another which will have different fillers and you may well tolerate them better
On a personal note, though, I have to say I was given Manx (hospital issue - maybe your's from hospital?) and I did stop it after only 11 days due to my shoulders becoming painful, but I was already having problems, post injury, with them. Clearly, I didn't tolerate them well. In fact, I've had issues with fillers before (proven) so please don't take my experience put you off. It may never cause you an issue.
So, I checked pharmacies in town, to see what brands they tended to have in stock. Fortunately, my regular pharmacy had Accord brand, which I tried and seems fine so they have a note only to dispense Accord for me but, if they don't have it, then I'll take the separaterly ordered prescription, to another pharmacy, to get the same brand.
Like 'Panadol' (the original) and 'paracetamol', prices are very different as 'Panadol' had all the development expenses before it was 'generic' and available from others at a very much reduced price
'Femera' is the original brand and costs around £90+ per 28 days supply, whereas the generics are around £10 / month so you can see why Femera, specifically, isn't prescribed by NHS.
I really would suggest you try the Manx. You could well have absolutely no problem with them
Wishing you well and would love to hear how you find the Letrozole, if possible ;)
I have a high blood pressure, but I think all the oestrogen- blockers would do that.
So far, that's the only sde effect I have, oh and tje stiff joints which walking takes away- so it's quite manageable. I haven't heard of that brand but will keep an eye open as the chemist sends me whatever they have, so please, let me know how you get along. I think Chocdrop's advice is sound.
WOW, I think you are so lucky not having too much in the way of side effects. :)
Several years ago I had breast cancer, plus this year, and I was on Tamoxifen and then Anastrozole but couldn't tolerate the effects on my joints, mainly, so stopped them after a couple of years. I've already got arthritis in places but have had a lot of various injuries during my life time, which could make me more susceptible perhaps.
I'm one that has problems with fillers so, now that I've found Accord to have little affect on me (apart from fatigue), I'll be making sure I stick to the same brand ;)
Yes, the Manx letrozole was from a hospital pharmacy. I’ve made the decision to start taking them after my radiotherapy (5 sessions) is completed, If there are any side effects I want to be able to distinguish whether it’s the rads or the drug.
From an online search this morning, I have been able to see the listed ingredients of Accord, Sandoz, Actavis, Cipla, Teva, and Sun Pharma. The Manx leaflet has ‘Povidone K-30’ listed as “other ingredient”. The only brand which has this listed in their info is the SunPharma brand. Has the mystery been solved I wonder?
I don’t understand why generic brands have to be so different in their composition, they all contain 2.5mg letrozole but some have lots of E numbers, a couple have tartrazine, a couple have no azo dyes (E numbers) or tartrazine. Not looking for problems, just want to be informed on what I’m taking long term.
I have been very healthy until this year (thanks 2021!), never been on long term meds, even my GP remarked how rare it is for me to consult them (apart from the usual health checks). I’m grateful to the NHS for the rapid treatment and all the care received.
Well apart from the blood pressure, all seems well and so far I have had very few side effects with any of the treatment so wasn't looking forward to the Letrozole!I don't seem to be able to walk as far as I used to before the dreaded fatigue sets in. So yes, I've noticed the fatigue. Well, I have only been on letrozole for 2 and a half months only another 4 years and 10 months to go - plenty of time to get the rest. We'll, you gotta laugh or see the gp, or both. I 'd do both.
