Letrozole and Tendonitis?
Hello all! I am coming up on 6 years of AIs with Letrozole being the most recent one. I had been on Arimidex but developed trigger thumb and fatigue over time so I switched to Letrozole. I have been okay for the most part but I now have tenosynovitis in my left wrist which won't go away and a new tendon issue on the top of my right foot that makes walking difficult. Have any of you experienced tendon issues while on Letrozole? Does anything help or do I need to switch AIs again? Thanks for your hive mind help!
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Yes on tendon issues on AIs! Honestly, don't know if switching would help. Hopng you can get some help.
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Joules44, I experienced tendon inflammation from letrozole that kept worsening week by week. I stayed on it for two years before my medical oncologist (MO) advised switching to exemestane. I’ve now been on exemestane for almost three years, and while it’s not perfect, it’s much better than letrozole.
My MO explained that anastrozole and letrozole are in the same family of drugs, so if one causes issues, the other likely will as well. Exemestane works differently, and in my experience, the side effects have been significantly different and more tolerable.
I’d suggest talking to your MO about switching, as the situation likely won’t improve on its own. How much longer do you need to stay on aromatase inhibitors (AIs)?
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@joules44 - I've been on anastrozole 4½ years. In the last year I've had more trouble with tendonitis in my right hand and I suspect it in some recent foot pain. One article I read on the link between anastrozole and tendonitis (don't ask me which one) suggested low collagen. So, I'm thinking of adding a collagen supplement, but I'm still on the fence.
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On Anastrazole for 8 months after a mastectomy for DCIS, during which I’ve experienced trigger digits, a worsening of arthritis in my knees and feet, and serious hair thinning. When I went through menopause 20 years ago, I was one of the lucky ones: no hot flashes or night sweats, no real symptoms at all, actually. Now, at 73, Anastrozole has changed my life, and I’m seriously thinking about going off of it. I’m the sole caregiver for my 80 year old partner, and he has a traumatic brain injury, is incontinent, and is living with congestive heart failure. Anastrozole is sapping me of energy I need to care for him, and feeding into my depressive tendencies. My goofy oncologist insists that she has never heard of Anastrozole causing hair loss, but friends who have gone through this treatment tell me that they have experienced the same thing. This week, my cleaning lady told me that if she lost as much hair as I do, she’d be bald! Guess I should count my blessings, but I need to be able to operate without exhaustion to keep things going around here.
Have any of you had experience with abandoning hormonal treatment?
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Hi @amywren, I’m sorry you are having problematic side effects from anastrazole in addition to all the other complications in your life. Have you asked your oncologist what your risk of recurrence would be without taking an AI? While AIs reduce the risk of recurrence by 50%, if the risk is small to begin with the benefit of anastrazole might not be worth it for you. Only you can decide but knowing your personal risk statistics would help you make an informed decision. All the best.
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@amywren I would suggest seeking a second opinion. I know a couple of friends in their 40s who were offered the option to take an aromatase inhibitor after being diagnosed with DCIS. They chose not to take the medication and are doing well several years later. Every individual is unique, but some doctors tend to strictly follow guidelines without fully considering factors like patient age and low risk levels.
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I took anasrazole for a few months after being diagnosed while awaiting surgery in 2020. Lots of hair thinning, joint pain. Decided not to continue taking it after surgery - I asked oncologist for my recurrence/mets risk taking AI vs not taking it and it was 3% with it and 6% without it. Given I was 62, had been on HRT for many years until diagnosis so had elevated estrogen at that time which could well have contributed to the cancer developing and had no genetic factors that increase risk I decided to play the odds. If I was 10 years younger I’d probably have made a different decision and tried other hormone suppressors. Only time will tell if my decision was the right one but I’m at peace with it.
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