Letrozole for Breast Cancer, Metastatic User Reviews

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2012

Letrozole "I've been taking Femara since the breast cancer was discovered in my lung - that has been 10 years this year. Two types of chemo failed to knock it out and as I was preparing for radiation, I started taking Femara. Within a month the tumor began to shrink and all that is left is scarring where it once was. I am so grateful to my doctor for recommending it to me. My other oncologist didn't even mention it. Needless to say I'm happy to be alive and enjoying life."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2009

Letrozole "I have been using Femara for 8 months, and I have been having very few side effects. I get the hot flashes only once in a while now. I do have some joint pain, but that has been easy to tolerate. If that means I will have a longer life, only God knows that. There is always hope, just keep the faith and have no doubt in the medicine, doctors and mostly God."

• ram...
• June 5, 2013

Letrozole "Femara for 18 months, no side effects for first 6 months, then joint and muscle pain, physical fatigue, bone density loss. Will continue for as long as it works, at the moment looking clear, I want to live."

• Sti...
• May 23, 2010

Letrozole "After 7 years of several different medicines to try to stop the growth of the tumors, Femara is the only one which worked for me. My WBC is higher, the tumor has actually shrunk in the breast - but being realistic, it's not a cure-all, a patch for a longer life but eventually we all expire. I highly recommend this product for those who want longevity without losing your quality of life."

• mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2015

Letrozole "Breast Cancer in 1999. Stage 1 distant recurrence lung tumor in 2012. Given Femara (letrozole). After two months, tumor shrunk. Almost 3 years now on letrozole. No side effects and no evidence of disease."

• MVR...
• March 3, 2012

Letrozole "After a year on Femara I am beginning to experience severe hair loss, bald patches on top of my head, and the hair is turning thin and brittle. Insomnia for the last 2 months, pain in my joints, I was diagnosed with Glaucoma and am very forgetful, i.e. find it difficult to concentrate. But, if Femara stops the recurrence of cancer, I'll keep taking it. If it just were not for the hair loss."

• She...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 13, 2019

"I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 2-9-2016. I am ER and PR positive, Her2 negative. I am still on my first line of treatment (letrozole 2.5 daily). (Bone metastasis only!) Zometa infusions every three months. Letrozole has been a wonderful drug for me. Very minimal side effects. I am currently in month 43 of letrozole (Femara). I am very thankful for the makers of this drug."

• HHa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2018

"At 75, I was paralyzed from the waist down and diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer and paraneoplastic syndrome. My main tumor was the size of an American football, with Mets. Given 1 dose of chemo. 2 weeks later, I got pneumonia, a UTI, and severe sepsis. My kids were told I had 2 hours to live. Still there the next day, I was given a 1% chance of living for a month. More chemo was out, so I was put on letrozole. After 8 months of paralysis, I moved my right foot. I started physio, and within 3 months, I learned to stand then walk. A year on, my tumors continue to shrink. Then joint pain started after about 8 months in hips, wrists, knees, ankles, and bones on top of my feet, and I seized up every time I take a break and have to start all over again. Morning is hardest. But the bottom line is I am alive. I have been declared a medical miracle... and I owe it all to letrozole. The pain can be quite bad at times, but I take no painkillers. I just sit down and consider the alternative! Thank you, letrozole."

• jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 14, 2015

"I'm a new member. I had breast cancer at the start of 2013, it had spread to my liver, bone, and spine. I had radiotherapy on my spine, which worked well. I was then put on letrozole. Within 6 months, the scan results showed that all the tumors were shrinking. I had awful hot flushes, but I coped with them. In April 2014, my scan was clear, and I was pain-free, this was just by taking letrozole. I called it my wonder pill. However, in the last few weeks, the muscle pain in my legs has started. I went to the health shop and got some Musseltone gel. Yes, I have spelled it right as it's made from mussels from the sea. It's great, I rub it on a few times a day and before I get out of bed in the morning. For me, letrozole was my miracle cure."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 16, 2018

"I had breast cancer 9 yrs ago, stage 1. I had 4 mo's chemo, 6 weeks radiation. Then, a 1 1/2 yr. ago it came back, stage 4, and it metastasized to both my lungs. Now, I’ve been on Letrozole for 1 1/2 yrs, and a few of my tumors shrunk and have stabilized the others. I’ve had some side effects, which are brain fog, night sweats, fatigue, and dryness. It’s been very tolerable. I call Letrozole my miracle pill! Good luck to you all! ❤️"

• Bub...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2019

"2018, the worst year of my life. Got suddenly diagnosed with met left breast cancer. So shocked, underwent mastectomy, radiation. HER negative, hormone positive. Underwent oophorectomy to decrease estrogen levels. Now on letrozole since 14 months. Horrible hot flashes and night sweat, severe arthritis. Still coping. Thinking of stopping letrozole, but oncologist said to continue and have patience. Let us hope for a better future."

• LAa...
• May 12, 2020

"Been on this drug for 3 months. Extreme hot flashes. Severe chills. I am sleepy all day. I go to bed sleepy. I wake up sleepy. I fall asleep anywhere. My quality of life is gone because of no energy. Hair loss. Weight gain. Depression, which I did not have before. Dizziness and mental fogginess. All of these symptoms every single damn day."

• Ban...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 21, 2015

"After a modified radical mastectomy for stage 3 breast cancer, I took letrozole for 5 years, and my tumor marker test (CA 15-3) remained low. My oncologist and I decided that without any indication of malignancy, I could safely go off the letrozole. After 2 years off it, my (CA 15-3) blood test shot up, and I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer on my chest wall. I resumed taking letrozole and had 36 radiation treatments. I have taken letrozole for 7 months now, and my most current CT scan showed the lesion was gone. I know the radiation destroyed most of the lesion, but I'm sure the letrozole helped a lot with the rest. I probably will take letrozole for the rest of my life."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2018

"I’m 54 years old, and I’ve been taking this Rx for my MBC with extensive bone mets for 6 months. Last week, I suffered a spontaneous fracture of the tibia and fibula bones in my ankle! I might need surgery in a few weeks. I called the manufacturer, and they confirmed it can cause osteoporosis and fractures in 14% of patients (in clinical trial #1 and 9% in a second clinical trial). Also, my vision is getting a bit worse, and they confirmed it can also cause several vision problems in less than 4% of Letrozole users. I’m never, ever taking this drug again!"

• Dan...
• August 16, 2015

"I had ER+ HER- stage III, 23 positive lymph nodes. Diagnosed Christmas before last. Age 47. Neoadjuvant ACT, surgery, radiation. Letrozole was the first aromatase inhibitor I tried. I am so sorry to hear of the side effects many have had. I have had a few. Gained a little weight, constipation. But I had serious joint pain and stiffness before I had cancer. The chemo made my joint pain and stiffness go away. Even my hips. When I finished, it crept back. Then I started letrozole and it went away. I know this helps me because I ran out of it on vacation for two days and could barely move the day I got my refill. After three doses, I was back to normal. That is good because I have to take it as long as I live."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2017

"It was toxic to me. Severe joint pain, insomnia, osteoporosis, increased cholesterol count, and spinal stenosis. I also lacked libido and energy. It is worth the small chance of recurrence. I am still in pain, and I have been off of it since the end of April. It has impacted my life enormously; I regret taking it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2016

Letrozole "I'll make this as brief as possible: This drug isn't putting a dent in ceasing tumor progression in me. Unfortunately, the intravenous chemo [Abraxane] I was on had plateaued and was no longer effective. I have no idea what I will be going on next."

• Syd...
• October 22, 2017

"I am taking letrozole (Femara), and I have malignant pleural effusion secondary to breast cancer. I had my first lumpectomy with lymph node removal in 1996 with radiation. Second lumpectomy in 2003 with no treatment. Mastectomy (all the same breast) in 2013 with chemo. Now, I have been diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and have been put on letrozole. The side effects are really bad, from the hot flashes to severe bone and joint pain. Has anyone out there been in my situation and can give me more insight about whether to take or discontinue the letrozole? Thanks in advance."

• Mag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2018

"Started letrozole as second-line treatment, after tamoxifen (2.5 years), for mets in bones, lymphs, and primary still present. Breast tumors just continued to grow, the smaller one more than doubled in 6 weeks. Side effects depended on the brand, was unable to function on one, but once changed it was manageable, just some terrible hot flushes/sweats in the evening. Had hoped to get at least a year on this treatment, but now threatened with radiotherapy to spine and chemo."

• Ral...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 14, 2024

"Metastatic breast cancer - L5 vertebra metastases diagnosed in October 2008. I started Femara in November 2008 and took one daily until July 2023 when I switched to generic: Letrozole. As long as I took Femara, the adverse effects were tolerable: at first there were hot flashes (about 2 years) with fatigue, hair thinning. Since last year, since I have been taking the generic Letrozole, I have had joint pain, burning sensation in the soles, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, sensitive peripheral neuropathy. Since March 2024, I have developed a sensation of facial paresthesias (chin/lower and upper lip), numbness and tingling in the skin of my arms and legs bilaterally. However, almost 16 years on from my initial diagnosis I have no signs of breast cancer recurrence so I will continue with Letrozole"

• Isl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2021

"I've been on letrozole for 4 years, since I was first diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The first year, I also took Kisqali. Two years ago, I was able to take just letrozole alone and it has kept me stable with no progression. I have gained 20 lbs over the past two years, impossible to lose. I also have a lot of aches and pains in my bones and muscles. I also have insomnia, sweating, and genitourinary syndrome. I've also become prediabetic. Unfortunately, I can't go off of this medication as stage 4 is terminal. I am fortunate to only need a hormone blocker for now, but the side effects are still intolerable at times."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2022

"Been on it since August this year. I have bone cancer and a tumor on my lung, as well as breast cancer. I feel much better than I did before taking it, but do get tired very quickly. If this gives me extra life, my balance was terrible at first and I was very dizzy, but now not too bad. I just hope it keeps helping my condition."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2023

"I was diagnosed with ER-positive de novo lobular breast cancer with bone metastasis in 12/2020. I have been on letrozole since 2/2021. My condition is stable. I also get a liquid biopsy every three months that shows no evidence of disease, even though my CT scan still shows it in my bones. I have hot flashes from this medication and joint problems with my hands, but other than that, I feel great! I hope it continues to work as my first line of treatment."

• jha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 6, 2021

"I have been using letrozole for 2 years. My last refill had a strong and offensive odor-similar to bleach. I asked the pharmacist about it, and he shrugged it off. I did ask him to refill the monthly supply. The same odor was still there."

• Mar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2018

"Update from 2015. Still on letrozole, still no side effects, and still no sign of cancer. It has been 6 years now. It has been the first and only treatment I have had with metastatic breast cancer."