Anyone taking Letrozole after being treated for breast cancer ?

[Leymay24]

I would be interested to know how other people are coping, and what side effects you have. I have peripheral neuropathy, and I have to be very careul about bumping into things as I get bruises.

[SnazzyD]

Hello,

I think you’ve got the wrong forum. This is for PMR and GCA. Anyway, for what it’s worth I took Letrozole after breast cancer treatments 13 years ago. I had to give it up because it caused me to lose my short term memory and made my white cell count drop. If you had chemo the neuropathy could well be from that, especially from the taxol types and it can take months to go.

[Pieater67 in reply to SnazzyD]

I have PMR and I also take Letrozole for Breast cancer treatment.Have recently completed a 4week Moving Forward Programme after finishing Chemo and Radiotherapy,this programme really helped me not only do they discuss lots of things such as adjusting to life after cancer and any difficulties you may encounter.Try breast cancer care.org.uk for support and information.Good luck and hope .

[SnazzyD in reply to Pieater67]

There was no such thing as a moving forward program back when I was recovering. I think they have finally realised many people ended up with anxiety and depression after treatment. Many think that once it is all finished it is back to business as usual but that is when the healing starts. I think so much physical survival occurs during treatment that the mental bit doesn’t get a chance. Most people I’ve seen in trouble in my job are about 6m-18m down the line, but that is often due to unrealistic expectations and shock that the mental bit throws up stuff so long after event. You have a double whammy to deal with too, but you will be well versed in pacing already I expect.

I forgot to say Letrozole gave me joint pain and achey muscles as well, which might be confusing with PMR.

[Leymay24]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Its nearly 4 years since I had treatment for breast cancer, and although you are a bit nervous about it, the after effects of the treatment are not always given much thought. Everyone is so busy getting you through the operation and the chemo etc.,......a lot of people think that I look well etc., but one's confidence goes down, and anxiety kicks in about all kinds of things. I will look on that website for people like me, and see what others have to say. I posted on here because I thought that there would be someone having gone through the same treatment and also I am taking Adcal vitamin D supplement to guard against Osteoporosis. Thats another thing that can effect your bones by taking Letrozole. Its supposed to be the best drug for the type of cancer that I was treated for. Thanks again for your posts.