Did women who had an easy menopause and periods, have an easy time with IA?
I'm supposed to start Letrozole. I just got over chemo and RT and just waiting to get back on my feet before starting this poison. Trying to talk myself into it. I can't seem to get straight answers that satisfy me. Get tired of the Standard of Care or One Size Fits All. Why isn't a hormone test done at the beginning and during? Why is everyone given the same 2.5 mg? Why do some studies show that women who took less still have their estrogen inhibited? Why don't oncologists start on low doses until your body gets used to it? I've given up getting answers. Maybe I don't understand enough, but I never thought I was stupid. Anyway, it seems to be all part of the Cancer Challenge.
So rant over, back to my question: if you had an easy menopause and easy periods, did you have minimal side effects with Letrozole?
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I personally hated letrozole ( it made my bones ache) but have been on antrozole for a year+ and no problems. Ask if that similar drug is an option if you have side effects on lez
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Hi @wonderingwoman7 -
Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you had to join this 'club' that no one wants to be a part of, but glad that you found us.
I have never considered Letrozole 'poison'. I was very happy there was an option for taking a drug that kept me 'safe' for almost 20 years before b.c. came back. I stayed on it for 8 years the first time and was reluctant to go off of it. I am now back on it again and feel like it has been a life saver for many people.
Some people have problems with it. Others do really well without side effects. The first time I took it, I also had an oophorectomy to put me into menopause so I COULD take it. That resulted in the usual menopause symptoms. This time, since I am much older, the only side effect I have is some tiredness. I have found that taking it at night works well.
I have never heard anyone discuss a correlation between menopause/period symptoms and letrozole.
As kjfromoz stated, there are a few different AIs, so if one causes you issues, ask to try another one.
Try not to assume that you will have issues with it. Look at it as something to keep cancer away. You don't know how your body will respond until you try it.
Good luck to you. Take Care.
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hello. I’m on day one of Letrozole and it was the AI choice I was hoping for after reviewing tamoxifen and other HT. So I am glad.
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No, menopause wasn’t too bad but that fact seemed to have no correlation to the side effects of AI’s. There are many confounding factors that might contribute to how we react to certain drugs or whether or not we experience se’s. Yes, there is a standard of care that is a result of clinical trials which was part of the approval process for drugs. However, breast cancer is much more complex than most realize and not every possibility or scenario has been researched such as whether those who had an easy menopause have an easier time with AI’s. You have asked some good questions. What does your oncologist say?
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Hey Exbrnxgrl
I just started taking it and so far, thank God, I'm fine for now. I'm going to get my hormones tested. My MO wants to start me on Abemaciclib, so there's a whole 'nother thing going on. It's such a crap shoot.
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