FEMARA

Question for those of you who are experiencing joint pain. Overall, I don't feel any pain, but both of my shoulders have problems: the right shoulder has minor rotator cuff tears as well as bursitis; the left one has tendonitis. All the info I've read on letrozole just says "joint pain" but it doesn't mention exactly what the mechanism is that is causing the pain. What I'm wondering is (a) could the letrozole have made me more prone to injury and inflammation, and (b) could it be that letrozole doesn't really affect the joints as long as they remain healthy, but makes any existing inflammation/injury worse and more difficult to treat?

I've been in PT, had a cortisone shot in one shoulder, but have significant loss of range of motion from both shoulders. Yet, every other joint in my body feels fine.

Day ~ that cracks me up ... menopause in fast forward x20!  That's how I feel!!!!

Momine, how did you figure out that the allergies were a result of the taxotere?

I had posted a while ago that my tongue felt funny like a burning and it was waking me up at night. Now I know it was from a watermelon allergy that I never had before. This could be related to the chemo I had.

Cp418.......you and I are in the same boat.....I have lost about half of mine....saw a dermatologist who thought I had lost too much for it to be Letrozole ....had blood work done, but nothing showed up. I started losing it about two weeks after starting L.

Yes - very frustrating as I brush to cover over the thin areas.  My hair and nails do grow quick but my hair is at least 40% less than when I started and it wispy thin fine.  The hair never grew back on legs or under arms which was nice but the head and thin eyebrows is annoying. Also within the past year or so I've had 2 small warts sprout on my finger which I've never had in the past.  This just indicates my immune system is really struggling.....

Mary, I took a few weeks off recently. My Onc said a few weeks wasn't enough for s/e's to go away...said I wold need 3 months off to tell any difference. maybe someone will come along that had different results.

I have been off it almost 3 weeks and notice a huge difference in pain and no longer feeling like a 90 year old. Just a few days ago I realized I am getting up and down off the floor of my classroom so much easier. I am off it till I see my Onc after Christmas.

Jacee- I have only been on it for 10 months so I have a long way to go too. Dr wants me off it to see if my problems are auto-immune disorder related or drug SE. we'll see...

I haven't taken my Letrozole in 3 nights and have already noticed a huge improvement. I'm moving easier in my joints and muscles, my major complaint of diarrhea is gone as of today as well!! I was prescribed a blood pressure med (diuretic) 3 days ago as well as 600 mg of Magnesium at night so am taking that into serious considertion!! Wow. Didn't realize that AI's depleted us of magnesium, increased BP and how important it is for us! I think the Magnesium has made a HUGE difference for me so far! Will go back on Letrozole in a few days and see what other short term differences I notice. Doing my own "study".

My oncologist actively discouraged me from taking a vacation from the stuff, so I'm going to keep on keeping on for at least awhile - four more years to go for me.  My hair really got bad, though, so it got chopped this weekend.  I've had long hair for most of my life, and I keep feeling for it.  Kinda weird. 

Hi everyone, I am jumping in the middle to say hello and that I have been on Femara for four weeks now and I was freaking out about side effects but other than a sore lower back a couple of times, I have not had any.  I pray it stays that way.  I have my phase 2 Diep surgery next Monday and hopefully that will finish out my year of breat cancer. 

Love to you all. 

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Nanna have you asked to change to one of the other AI's? Sometimes changing gives you relief from the really bad SE's and well worth talking to your onc about.



Love n hugs. Chrissy