My wife who is 77 has been receiving both drugs for 5.5 years and they have certainly stopped her cancer coming back.
However over the last 6-9 months she has developed ‘brain fog ‘ type symptoms and short term memory impairment. It is not normal aging and I read that long term exposure to Letrozole can impair cognitive function. I wonder whether this is something others have experienced and what if any steps have been taken to help. Lynda is waiting for an appointment at a local Memory Service Clinic….
Thank you.
I don't know about Palbociclib, but I took Anastrozole (similar drug to Letrozole) for 5 years. Finished it 4 years ago and I'm 60 now.
I think it's a combination of the tablets and getting older. As we get older our memory goes. Oestrogen reducing naturally in our bodies affects us (including memory, skin etc) so I think the effect of getting older happens, but more so, because of the drugs forcing it to happen more quickly.
My friend of the same age also forgets words too sometimes, so it does seem normal, but I just think we notice it more because it was being 'forced' quickly on our bodies and the effects appear more so. Many a time, I've had to go back and retrace my steps to work out why I went where I did. Plus, I do sometimes struggle to find the correct words.
I try games on my phone - mostly word games - to aid my concentration and I think this has helped a little.
Hopefully Lynda is just the same (she's 17 years older than me) and it's not anything for her to worry herself over - that the Memory Clinic can reassure her that it's the side effects of drugs rather than anything else more concerning.
Kindest wishes, Lesley
