Do you ever take a "break" from the hormonal therapy?

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Meganmm
Meganmm Member Posts: 20
edited May 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi,

I've been on Letrozole (Femara) since September 2014, with 18 months of Tamoxifen before that. My current side effects are joint pain. But where it is really bothering me is in my feet. I have had a sore heel (plantar fasciitis?) since Thanksgiving and now the top of my other foot is really hurting. I'm going to a wedding in a couple weeks and would like to be able to actually wear nice shoes besides Birkenstocks and Danskos...so I'm thinking about a 2-3 week break from the Letrozole. Has anyone done this, and has it helped?

Thanks!

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited May 2016

    My MO had me on a planned break for 3 months to see if symptoms would subside once I restarted. I did feel better when I was off the drug but not 100%. I would tell your MO you are taking a break and then do it. It is unlikely to have any negative consequences except feeling so much better you have a hard time going back on! Best what ever you decide and enjoy that wedding no matter which shoes you end up wearing!

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  • taag4
    taag4 Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2016

    I started out on letrozol and could not take the aching, and joint pain so after three months, my oncologist took me off for six weeks. Then it was onto the next exemestane which I was on another three months. It was causing numbness and tingling, so she took me off of that for six weeks. Now I am on anastrozole. So I had two six week breaks which were very nice. I almost started to feel like my old self again. So its always up to you whether you want to be taking those dam little pills, just make sure you let your doctor know what you are doing.

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  • Meganmm
    Meganmm Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2016

    Thanks ladies! I found a pair of Aerosole pumps that didn't hurt -they look like they are covered in cork! My DH doesn't care for them, but I said they were the only pair that didn't hurt my feet and they only came in the cork, black and red, and I decided to go with a neutral color. My sister said they are wine shoes...haha

    I stopped taking my medicine for a week and didn't get much relief, so just decided to go back on it. I'll stick a pair of flip flops in my purse and just hang in there :)

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited May 2016

    Meganmm - I had been on Arimidex for a year when the side effects became unbearable and potentially life-threatening. I finally summoned up the courage to tell my MO I couldn't stand it any more. She was completely understanding, and wondered why it took me so long to tell her. She gave me a two month "drug holiday" to see if the SEs resolved.

    They did - completely - and I felt wonderful! But then she switched me to Femara, and within six months, the SEs were back. At that point, because of my early stage dx, and quality of life issues, the MO said she felt very comfortable letting me go off the AIs altogether.

    I'm honestly not sure that a two or three week break would be enough to see any improvement in symptoms, so I'm glad you found some shoes you can wear comfortably. I have plantar fasciitis, and have orthotics in every shoe I own.

    If those are your only issues after being on the drugs so long, you are doing great, and I encourage you to finish out your course of treatment!!!

    Have a great time at the wedding....

    p.s. LOVE Aerosoles...

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited May 2016

    There is a study beginning in England which includes a 9 month cycle of aromatase inhibitor followed by a 90 day break scheduled every year. It is testing the theory that better control of cancer might be achieved by allowing some cells to start growing for a little while under the influence of additional estrogen then starving them with the anti-hormonal treatment so they die. Hopefully this administration technique will also minimize resistance formation by interfering with their tendency to mutate when given constant exposure to a therapeutic agent.

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2016

    Wow! Very interesting study. IMO it shows how they have a long way to go in understanding female hormones and their role in BC. Thanks for sharing...

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  • jojo9999
    jojo9999 Member Posts: 202
    edited May 2016

    vlnrph, do you have any specifics on this study? sounds very interesting.

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  • starwoman
    starwoman Member Posts: 73
    edited May 2016

    It sounds like the SOLE study - I'm not sure when it is due to report but got the impression from my MO that it is likely that useful results may be available in the next 2-3 years. I agree dtad.

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