Should I switch from letrozole
I've posted about my cholesterol going up. I've been on letrozole for 4 years. The first year on it my cholesterol jumped 40 points 😡. I was looking through the files here which talks about all of the AI's only letrozole lists high cholesterol as a possible side effect. The others do not. Wouldn't they all cause high cholesterol as a possible side effect? If not, should I switch? If so which one should I try. I've been in contact with my oncologist about this as well
Thanks
Nancy
Comments
-
just asked my oncologist to switch me to aromasin.
0 -
Hi Nancy!
I've been on Aromasin + Zoladex for 6+ years. I've only got ONE. MORE. YEAR. The worst thing I can say? Weight gain.
Hope you're doing OK otherwise. A couple of our July 2014 sisters checked in lately at our old thread.
0 -
Hi Elaine. Good to hear from you. I am fine just annoyed with this rise in cholesterol. My new oncologist is running the BCI test to see if I need to stay on AI’s for 3 more years. January will be 7 years for me. Geez I hope I don’t have to stay on it any longer. Yep I hear you on the weight gain so annoying. Anyway hope you are doing well.
0 -
Nancy,
My oncologist is supposed to be running the BCI test for me, too. I took a "Zoladex holiday" earlier this year, and I'm STILL NOT MENOPAUSAL! I'm 54 -- come on ovaries -- it's time to shut down! If the BCI says I'm good with seven years, I'd be happy to quit the Zoladex and the AI. But, since my ovaries are still cranking out the estrogen, I'm wondering if I want that estrogen. My oncologist says I can always have an ooph and surgically remove my ovaries, but I don't know. My cancer was Grade 3 because of an overexpression of HER2, though 95% of my cells were ER+/PR+. UGH. Choices, choices!
0 -
Elaine one of my OB/GYN assistants said she didn't become postmenopausal until 59. Yikes. Chemo put me into menopause after the first round lol I was 51. I can't wait to get my BCI results back, but it can take a while. Thankfully my oncologist agreed to let me try aromasin because I quit letrozole as soon as I found out about my elevated cholesterol levels.
0 -
Elaine,
My mother didn’t finish menopause until she was 62! I am only 45 now, so I had my ovaries removed so I could switch from tamoxifen to letrozole. 2 years on T was causing liver issues. I am not having any problems, just some minor hot flashes.
But now I am more wary of the effects that can’t be seen, like heart issues and cholesterol.
0 -
momof,
That's amazing! And, I could be like your Mom. Yeah, I do wonder about weird side effects of hormonal therapy. But, I basically feel fine.
0 -
I've been on Aromasin for 5+ years and have consistently had a higher cholesterol. It's right in the gray area of needing a cholesterol-lowering drug. So far, I haven't started one although I probably should have. I just keep thinking that if I can lose this extra weight it will go down! It's probably true but losing weight is 10x harder without estrogen!
0 -
meistere - thanks for the comment. Honestly, I feel better on letrozole than aromasin. Aromasin affects my mood more than letrozole. Decisions, decisions. And yes to me it's nearly impossible to lose weight especially this time of year
0 -
I am on letrozole for 2 years and I was diagnosed recently with osteoporosis despite taking calcium and vitamin D. By my doctor advise I am taking bisphosphonate now. But in sève emails here I see that there is a lot of reticence taking this med. I am too tired of taking meds, chimiothérapie already made me feel older, but besides that there is a specific concern related to bisphosphonates. It there any other choice given that all anti hormones have se?
My hope is that if by my next bone density measurement, in a year, all be better and I can stop it. But it is just a hope and I like to here from you your suggestions. I try exercise everyday (moderate such as walking stretching).
0 -
I am on letrozole for 2 years and I was diagnosed recently with osteoporosis despite taking calcium and vitamin D. By my doctor advise I am taking bisphosphonate now. But in sève emails here I see that there is a lot of reticence taking this med. I am too tired of taking meds, chimiothérapie already made me feel older, but besides that there is a specific concern related to bisphosphonates. It there any other choice given that all anti hormones have se?
My hope is that if by my next bone density measurement, in a year, all be better and I can stop it. But it is just a hope and I like to here from you your suggestions. I try exercise everyday (moderate such as walking stretching).
0
