Hormone blockers

Have you started them yet?

I was more worried about hormone blockers too. But the side effects have been very manageable and not nearly as bad as I thought they would be. They have also lessened with time, though I haven't been on them that long.

I am in my mid-40s and figured I'd be going through the menopause soon anyway - and my post-menopausal friends tell me I'm lucky to get it out the way as you can have years and years of up and down hormones. At least with hormone blockers, they're stopped suddenly and that's it! 

In terms of side effects, firstly, the women who are sharing side effects online that are debilitating are looking for help and answers. The women that don't have any side effects are likely not writing about it. I purposefully looked on drugs.com for 10/10 ratings for exemestane before taking it to get those positive experiences into my head.

I started zoladex injections during chemo and my worst SE were hot flushes and night sweats. Very intense, especially just after chemo. These have SIGNIFICANLY reduced since stopping chemo in January and I noticed they increased when I had my general anesthetic for surgery and again during radiotherapy. So whenever my system is a bit out of whack.

I started exemestane a month or so ago and haven't really noticed any difference with the hot flushes / night sweats - no worse. I do have joint and muscle pain if I sit around for too long but this honestly loosens off shortly after you start moving, I'm very active and it is not stopping me from doing anything.

There are so many things you can try to help with any SE you might have so you don't have to just put up with them. I prefer a natural route, so for mine I am taking sage (massive difference for hot flushes) and I have a chillax pillow to help at night. For joint pain, I take hemp oil in the evening which has virtually got rid of the bad hip pain I got overnight when I started the exemestane.

They say it takes about 6 months for SE to settle so give it that long. You can always try something different if what they give you doesn't suit. There are so many options.

My advice would be try not to think about SE and just take the hormone suppression and see what happens. You probably won't notice much and if you do, SE will likely calm down after a few months.

Good luck!

Thanks for your answer. I have to confess, I haven't started them yet but I know my oncologist will tell what type they have selected for me in his phone call tomorrow.  I'm worried about having to work and being on them. It's labour intensive and involves a lot of walking and I have to get up early so need my sleep.!  I'm more than a little concerned. I know I'll give them a try. My radiotherapy oncologist said jauntily ''maybe you won't have any side effects'. I've yet to hear that no one has any. I think it's the fact that you can't do anything about it. Moan, moan, complain, complain. Sorry.

I've worked throughout chemo, operation and radiotherapy and being active and moving around definitely helps too!

I would try not to worry until you know you have something to worry about :-)

Good advice, I'm worrying before the event. I'm in awe of you working  through chemo as it turned my brain to mush.

I looked at all the complaints about hormone blockers. My cancers are oestrogen positive (2 types in 2 breasts). As I want to see the back of these little buggers that have crept up and invaded my nice healthy tissue without my knowledge, I take the view that any side effects of the medication which cuts off their "food supply" as it were, is worth the small amount of suffering. I am on Letrozole, get very hot flushes sometimes, but find this is totally manageable.

I know you are right and it is good to hear from someone who has found the side effects manageable.i've got a feeling I'll be put on Letrazole. Do you take it at night? Well, the rational side of me knows you are right. The other side is terrified before I start.

Yes. I was told to take it around the same time each evening. Nearly half way through second pack. Rest assured that I was just as worried as you before taking the first tablet. So many women give up, but if you're not OK you can always tell your Oncologist/Consultant who can then think of something else to suit you or amend any side effects you might experience. Give them a go first though. It is considered to be one of the most effective treatments.

Hi Hepi I was worried too as I'm sure we all are but I have had no side effects other than constipation which is slowly improving.  It's one of the less common side effects. I've been taking tamoxifen for about 6 weeks now.  I'd rather have the constipation and do what I can to reduce the chances of cancer reoccurring.

If you do get side effects try swapping brands as some ladies have found that works for them.  Worst case scenario you can always speak to your oncologist and stop taking them but I'd give them a go.

Hope they sit well with you x

Hi Hepi

I have taken Letrozole for nearly 5 years after a wide local excision and radiotherapy.  Very little side-effects apart from a slight problem occasionally with my thumbs.  Actually I lost a lot of weight very quickly when I started on it.  As another lady said - ladies who have few side-effects don't go online so you only hear the bad news.  Chin up!  May not be as bad as you expect.  Good luck

That's good to hear about tamoxifen as my breast surgeon has indicated I will be on them after radiotherapy. Thanks for the information.