Anxiety and decisions about letrozole
Hi. ... I was diagnosed with stage 1,grade 1 breast cancer last year, only estrogen +, and had a mastectomy and 1st stage reconstruction in August. No lymph problem and extremely low aggressivity. A fortunate diagnosis and operation all things considered.
I'm waiting for the 2nd surgery to remove the expander which has been delayed due to lack of operating space in hospital. I have to take painkillers everyday. I am told I should take letrozole but when I started it I felt about 100 years old almost immediately, I'm 53 and live in a mountain village and have to walk everywhere and i have my own business to run. Letrozole is making me feel pain through my legs and feet, constant headache,nausea and insomnia. Digestion is not the same. lack of memory and concenteation which is really worrying me. I've only taken it for 3 weeks as I delayed taking it because I wasn't sure about it. I also have to have cortisone daily for asthma so the bone density risk is also a huge concern.
I don't know what to do. My oncologist doesnt seem to really hear me,she says if I don't take it I risk bone cancer.
I am now constantly anxious and crying all the time.
I was fine after surgery and have been positive and calm. Now I'm an emotional wreck and i can't function like this.
I would prefer to go down a natural path supporting my immune system etc... I am experienced and trained in the field, however the fear the oncologist is putting in me is making all decisions seem impossible and i just sit crying and paralysed in my thoughts.
Any advice or similar experiences shared could help... I feel truely lost.
Comments
-
Ask your MO if you can switch to another AI. Some women find one much more tolerable than the others. A bunch of us who have started fairly recently also did so slowly--either half a dose every day or a full dose every other day for a few weeks. And this really doesn't have anything to do with your immune system--because your tumor was ER+, you need to get rid of the estrogen in your body.
-
Dear Josey53,
Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment side effects have brought you here but glad that you reached out to our members. There is much to be gained here in the way of support and information from the shared experiences of others whose stories may be similar to yours. You also may want to check out the topic on Femara or the Hormonal Therapy Forum for more information and experiences of others to connect with. Please let us know if you need help navigating your way around.
The Mods
-
Hi and thank you for your reply. I know that letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor and stops the production of estrogen from fatty tissues. I am 18 months into my menopause. My problem.is the side effects and how to weigh up whether to take it with all the problems it is causing or not to take it and work with alternative methods. this is the confusion.
-
Josey could ask to go on Tamoxifen?. I was on tamoxifen and had no side effects. Unfortunately I have just been diagnosed wtih lung mets so now I'm on letrozole which is giving me terrible leg cramp I use CBD roll on stick which is helping. But the crying is new to me. You need an oncologist who understands you. Helps you in every aspect. Support is very important.This is your life and your choices sometimes we have to fight for what we need. Believe me I get the fact that it takes energy to fight but your worth the fight.
pip
-
There are many hormonal meds. if this one is causing you issues you need to speak up and let them know your choice. It is your choice how you decide to treat your cancer and not theirs. If your MO is not cooperative you need another one.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team