http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC222838...!po=81.1620

The what, why and how of aromatase inhibitors: hormonal agents for treatment and prevention of breast cancer

It confirms everything my onc said, especially the part about muscle and joint pain improving over time. Excellent read. The really encouraging thing to me was the low incidence of bone loss which was often seen in women with low levels of vitamin D

Hi all,

I started the Letrozole on 8/30. I had finished radiation on 8/11 and wanted to wait until the fatigue from radiation was mostly behind me. After one week on letrozole I have fatigue again and it is a giant bummer. I didn't expect the menopausal type side effects to be much of a problem for me because I had surgical menopause five years ago. But today I had a major hot flash that was really more of a flash BACK for me. If the fatigue keeps up like this I'll have to seek out another treatment...I am just not myself at all. It is hard to picture taking this for five years. My onco-score was 17 so I really need to (and will).

I had a bone density test prior to starting on this and i have osteoporosis (at 50!), serious in my spine. So I'm taking calcium and vitamin D and interested in any supplements and dietary recommendations...none have been suggested by my doctors other than the calcium/D supplements. Glad to have found you all and to have read your posts so far!

Mo

Hello All:

I finished chemo 3 weeks ago and will start radiation tomorrow. I will begin letrozole when I complete radiation, which I understand is Femara. I am very concerned after reading about side effects, because I must take it 10 years. Ugh!

Wishing you health and happiness.

MariaTeresaG

BayouMama....I just had my bone density and my results were the beginning of osteoporosis with a -2.5 in my spine. My MO wants me to see specialist to del with this. I have only been on fermara for six months. He said that they may put me on a drug like Boniva. All other scores were osteopenia.

MariaTeresa....you may not have any side effects.  I've been on femara almost a year and if I've had any side effects they have been minimal.  I say IF, because it hard to tell sometimes if it's the femara or just the gradual aging or lack of exercise.  I feel I do better overall with consistent exercise.  I mostly do yoga or take a brisk walk occasionally.  Just keep moving. 

so I went gluten free when I started all this as hoped it would give me a jump start on joint pain. My daughter has arthritis and gets flares with wheat. Had been on the fence about dairy and sugar which are so much harder. We went out for ice cream last night ( a rare treat) and my fingers bent better today. Maybe I should eat more ice cream?!?.

Thinking positive...my bone scan was a -3.5 in the lumbar.  My scores were sent to my primary doctor and his nurse called me and said he wanted me to start taking Fosomax once a week and continue with calcium and to check back in 1-2 years.  Didn't even have to see him and they didn't seem to think the score was alarming.  Hope they are right.  

BayouMama, I'm not sure your fatigue can be blamed solely on letrozole. For me it took about six months to feel like I was completely over the fatigue of diagnosis, surgery, and radiation. So I would say give it some time and you might start feeling much better.

Thinking....well that just stinks.  Why make you wait til January!  It will be interesting to see what they recommend.  Don't know if I should be concerned that my recommendation for Fosomax was made strictly from reading my scans 😏.  Other than Letrozole I'm not on any other medications. And up until BC had never had any medical issues. 

Nash 54 I know how you feel. I'm now. following up on elevated Ca1 25 results. Have an ovarian cyst

Nash 54 I also had a hard time getting an appointment with an osteoporosis specialist they didn't have an appointment for me until January 4 so I searched another hospital in the area and found a doctor affiliated with the hospital so I have an appointment for September 28.

Hi All I posted here a few weeks ago - hoping to get some feedback from those of you that have switched AI's with success.

About a month ago I changed from Anastrazole to Femara, hoping for less side effects. I was on Anastrazole for 6 months, was tolerating it well and then bam - had severe side effects including dizziness, headaches, flu-like symptoms and painful joints.

Made the switch to Femara a month ago, was doing okay until yesterday, when the same type of side effects started again.

I've tried 2 AI's with no success, the side effects are bad enough that I'm not sure that I want to try another one.

Has anybody had success after failure with 2 AI's? I'm so frustrated. Maybe I go back to Tamoxifen - ?

I am scheduled for a PET scan on Thursday because of the severe muscle and joint pain. Off Femara for a week again. I'm a bit scared. Love, Jean

I started on Femara after both Aromasin and Arimidex gave me severe ses. Femara is not great either, but for the past six months I've been on half a tablet a day (with my onc's approval) and I'm now tolerating it. It's not a bed of roses though, but the ses are ones I can live with for now. At least I'm not having hallucinations, debilitating headaches and vision problems.

My question is - I developed a dry cough about a month ago. It's a tickle in the back of my throat and is very annoying. I've also developed shortness of breath, but not badly. I saw my onc on Monday and he tells me that the cough and shortness of breath are a less common se of Femara. Ok - so has anyone else had this? And if so - how have you "treated" the cough? It's annoying lol.

Trish

Jean ((hugs)))

Remade, I hope for many more good years for you with your beautiful grandchildren