Hands and feet pain

[Shar313]

Hi ladies. I was diagnosed de novo in January 2019 with HER2+ BC with METS in my peritonea. I’ve been on Letrozol and Ibrance since then and my last scan was NED thank God. I am having lots of pain in my hands and feet which I assume is from the drugs. Has anyone else had these side effects and, if so, have you found anything to relieve the pain?

[wendle3007]

It will be the Letrozole which causes joint pain. You should ask the pharmacy to try different brands until you find one which suits. I'm also taking turmeric and glucosamine. I've got meeting with Oncologist at end of January and he says if I'm still in pain I might change to something else. Hope you find something which works for you

[mariootsi]

When I was on Letrozole I had joint pain everywhere. It used to be difficult getting out of bed and hard to walk. Maybe they can change it as all pains went away when I stopped taking it.

[Shar313 in reply to mariootsi]

What did you change to?

[mariootsi in reply to Shar313]

I was changed to Faslodex (Fulvestrant) shots when I was dx with mbc

[mariootsi in reply to mariootsi]

But there are many different aromatherapy inhibitors.

[M43bcmgreenblue]

Hi there Shar313

At present I am also on Ibrance and Letrozole and suffered with really bad pain in my hands and feet joints the same as you. I am fortunate to have special cream made up specifically for my pain from the aromatherapy department at my local Lymphoedema clinic. Instructions say to apply up to 2 or 3 times daily but I only need to use it once in the morning and I am pain-free. I have asked what the cream is made up of but the nurses would not say just informed me they were still working on it. If I were you, I would definitely speak to an aromatherapist to get some information about different creams they have for pain. I experienced some excruciating pain and I would not wish that on my worst enemy so I know where you are coming from and exactly how you feel. All my joints ached even my knees, ankles and wrists but this cream works wonders, I hope that this has been of some help to you. Try and keep strong and best of luck with finding some cream that works for you, take care and best wishes.

[M43bcmgreenblue]

I just remembered that I also experienced terrible pain in my right shoulder and my arms but after reading that one of the ladies here mentioned putting the Ibrance into an empty gel capsule, I tried it and must say it really worked. Even though I use the cream daily I was still getting pain in my shoulder and arms and the cream is in a little pot and I would have been using too for all the pain. So since using the empty gel capsules I am completely pain=free on a higher level. I am glad I remembered that to share with you keep your chin up I am sure you will get there. Blessings

[Shar313 in reply to M43bcmgreenblue]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I’ll check for the cream. As far as the Ibrance did you chop it up and put it in a capsule?

[wendle3007 in reply to M43bcmgreenblue]

I'm curious about this because I've been told to not even handle my Ibrance and to use a spoon or eggcup to take it because even the acid on your fingers can affect the absorbance rate.

[M43bcmgreenblue]

I leave the Ibrance whole and just put inside the capsule, the Ibrance will fit right inside the capsule. Once you open the capsule carefully take time and push inside the bigger half and then put the smaller half on top to close. The first time I tried to put in the tablet I put it in the smaller half and was not able to use that capsule.

I bought online and the size is 00 and there is 100 capsules, if I recall I paid about £4.99 I bought a smaller size also but the Ibrance fits better in the bigger 00 size.