Predict and decision about taking hormone suppressants. Letrazole and Exemestane

I haven't but its something I would think about.  I have only had 3 weeks of anastrozole on the side effects are driving me mad. I did nhs predict snd it said less than 1 pc increase in risk, although the breast care nurse said she would be surprised if it was that low.

She also said that some post menopausal women have tamoxifen if they can't tolerate the others and although less effective does reduce the risk. Might be something to consider xx

Hi Bobbiboo, Thank you so much for your reply and the useful information to consider.  It is a difficult decision but as my consultant was positive, I am starting my 3 months without exemestane and I will check out tamoxifen when we next meet.  We shall see!    I hope your side effects settle down soon.  x

I sympathise regarding the letrazole I had horrible side effects at first but after 6 months they seemed to get better. I find keeping moving helps with the aches and pains and I had acupuncture for the hot flushes. People also say that changing brands can help.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope you feel better soon 

It's good to.know the side effects settled for you Exray girl. I've stopped it for a few days as it was giving me carpel tunnel syndrome then I'm.going to start again on half tablets.

I ve heard acupuncture is good so I going try that after my radiotherapy . A friend also suggested yoga therapy for the side effects.  Anything worth a try taking more tablets just ends up with a cumulative effect.

Xx

1. I had my treatment at Royal Marsden and they offered a course of 10 acupuncture sessions. The first 6 were weekly and in the 6th they taught me to needle my own feet and legs and sent me home with needles to use weekly. I had top ups with them every 4 to 6 weeks. I’ve now been discharged from them and told to continue self needling. It’s been so good.

Re bone pain I read on here somewhere that some people recommend Loratadine which is an antihistamine to help with their bone pain. I take it everyday anyway as I have hay fever and it does seem to help.

I hope you find something to help you x

Thank you ill try it xx

Thank you for your reply Exraygirl.  I’m so glad your side effects got better.   I have also found that keeping moving helps and also Pilates.   Unfortunately, this is the 18th month and the side effects have not improved.   I hadn’t tried acupuncture or antihistamine though, so that is useful to know if I decide to go back to taking meds.  I am surprising myself because I never thought I would stop taking drugs which reduce the risk of recurrence.  I think in the end when the consultant told me my personal risk - it was simply QoL versus going tiredness, aches and pains and his suggestion to try for 3 months,  which has helped me decide to stop.  Thanks again for replying. x

Good luck with your radiotherapy Bobbiboo.  I found it so reassuring to be zapped!   With best wishes x

Thank you xx

Hi Jubilee! I’ve just completed my last radiotherapy (YAY..). Anyway, I’ve been prescribed anastrazole, I have them in the cupboard! But haven’t started taking them yet! Like you I’ve looked at the predict scores (which do not incorporate data for radiotherapy). I had chemotherapy prior to radio, plus I had a left sided mastectomy with no lymph node involvement, and an oncotype score of 28; so I was asked whether I wanted chemo (apparently I was borderlone 25 being the optimum score) so I said yes. First three were fine, but the fourth (docetaxil) was awful! Took me three weeks to recover and didn’t want to go back there. So stopped it off, oncologist said the ones I’d had were useful, so that’s was encouraging. I was being poisoned to treat something I may, or may not have!!! Anyway, before I start rambling on (had a few wines to celebrate end of treatment), I’m going to give the anastrazole a go after my hair has had a fighting chance! So maybe another 6 weeks, and if I’m ok, great (I know one or two folks who are fine on it), but if it interferes with my quality of life, I’ll reduce the dose and if there’s no improvement, I’ll stop taking it! Best of luck to you, because we’re all different; I’m an older lady with ER+ HER2- my bio tells the tale; I blame HRT…….