I started letrozole about 2 weeks ago and since Thursday night I have been getting the most excruciating pain in my hands mainly at night which doesn’t go away. It also feels numb. The pain is keeping me awake and I haven’t slept since. I have tried painkillers and using a splint which didn’t help. The numbness doesn’t ease off until about mid morning and then it’s mild tingling and numbness all day. My oncologist has told me to stop the letrozole which I did on Monday morning. The pain was worse last night. Has anyone else had this and how long did it take to subside upon stopping letrozole.
Hi RKD I am sorry you are having a rough time on letrozole. These aromatase inhibitors are not easy. I do not have breast cancer, I have endometrial stromal sarcoma which is hormone fed, so my treatment mirrors breast cancer treatment. I started on letrozole, and was on it for about 9 months. My hands were sore, but for me it was my feet that suffered the most! It became impossible for me to walk, and I ended up spending time in a wheelchair. For me I have no choice but to take a hormone blocker, so we took the decision for me to firstly stop letrozole for 2 weeks to see if my symptoms eased, and if they did then to start anastrozole. At the end of the 2 weeks I did feel better, still a little sore, but I could walk! On anastrozole I do still feel aching in my joints, mainly my hips and back, but if I move around it does ease.
I would say keep on with the splint and the pain killers for a few more days, and hopefully you will see some improvement.
