***OESTROGEN-REDUCING MEDICATIONS***

My radiotherapy sessions begin next week. Picked up my letrozole from hospital pharmacy ten days ago but I’m holding off on the letrozole until the sessions are over as I don’t want to have to contend with drug side effects at same time.

My BP was very high after the breast surgery so I’ve been put on amlodipine too.  I’m not happy on it, having to get up in middle of night to empty my bladder, didn’t have this problem before. Between a rock and a hard place now!

HI Eline

Amlodipine / getting up in middle of night

Yes, that's nuisance, especially when we need the best possible sleep to cope & recover from the treatment.

Have you tried any of the 'first line' management techniques, ie not drinking, if possible, after something like 8pm?

If you've tried that, and you've still got the issue, may I suggest you speak with your GP about this.  I would hope a different medication would be prescribed

Alternative drugs can achieve a lowering of BP by having different actions to keep blood pressure down.  Some make you wee a lot, so less fluid in circulation, hence lowering BP.  Other drugs will still achieve the lowering of blood pressure but not by making you wee loads.  I'm on BP meds that don't work by making me wee more    They work differently

A GP would prefer you to get back to them about this rather than you end up not always taking it, etc, because of this effect.

Good luck 

Hi ChocDrop

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I’m unable to go more than eight hours without drinking...I was diagnosed with kidney stones two weeks before my BC diagnosis (I don’t do things by half!). The stones can’t be zapped, requires keyhole surgery, urologist is waiting until the cancer treatment is completed. I’ve been taking the Amlodipine for four weeks now. I wasn’t aware that other BP meds work in different ways. I’d love to get back to uninterrupted sleep!

Eline

In that case, speak to your GP asap ;)

"Unfortunately I’m unable to go more than eight hours without drinking..."   - I totally agree, and especially if you have kidney stones, agree that it would be potentially  harmful to you to go without drink and that you need to get back to a decent night's sleep

Patients will have different / less issues from the same medication. 

I certainly recommend you speak with your GP, explaining that you really don't want the nocturia, preferring to get decent, and very necessary sleep.  I'm sure s/he will try to find a suitable solution, most likely in prescribing a different medication

Again, wishing you well 

Hi all. I’ve just had a copy of the letter to my doctor which states I am Er8 and Pr 8. Could anyone let me know if this means it’s good or bad and whether it means I’ll have hormone therapy? Thanks to all xx

Hi Imarah

My results after surgery were also ER 8/8 and PR 8/8 which meant hormone therapy (letrozole as I’m post-menopausal). I’ve just finished my radiotherapy sessions and giving myself a couple of weeks recovery time before I start taking the letrozole. I had a ten week interval between surgery and radiotherapy so didn’t appreciate oncology department pushing the hormone therapy at same time as radiotherapy as I was worried about possible side effects interfering with arm position during the sessions.

Best wishes xx

Hi ChocDrop

Contacted GP regarding side effects I was experiencing on BP meds (nocturia, nausea, flushes) and was given a different medication a week ago which is also causing nocturia and frequent flushing. There must be a BP medication that doesn’t act as a diuretic!!

I've had my results explained to me today as they were in a copy letter to me. The scale runs 1 to 8 with 1 being negative and 8 means positive if you are over 4 its likely you will need hormone therapy. The drug they give you depends on age and whether you've been through menopause. Hope this helps x

I found this by chance too which was helpful

https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/publication/understanding-your-pathology-results-bcc161

Its a downloadable booklet on understanding your results x

Hi Eline

Oh, sorry to hear the GP didn't  seem to appreciate what your problem was re diuretics.  Have you tried taking them in the evening?  If there is a delay in them working, then maybe taking later in the day could mean they work the following morning.  Just a thought.

Yes, there are loads of different meds to get the body to get rid of fluid but, with your other conditions, maybe they are not appropriate for you.

My advice to you would be to speak to the GP again, and make sure he is appreciating that you would prefer some medication that didn't cause you to be having disturbed nights.  Don't let him just give you sleeping tablets, though  LOL  I don't think a GP would prescribe sleeping tablts because of a disturbed night due to diuretics but I have known it!  If anyone does, they need to go back to Med school  ;)

Other alternative would be to speak with a different GP who, hopefully, has better listening skills !!!

I'm afraid it sounds like you've just got to keep fighting your corner.  Also, ask the GP WHY they prescribing ones that disturb you in the night.  You definitely need your sleep

Wishing you good luck