Letrozole for Breast Cancer User Reviews (Page 5)

• Fri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2021

"I took Letrozole for 15 months. I had developed very bad asthma. Both my oncologist and specialist physician were treating me. No cause could be found, and more medication was added. Suddenly, one day I wondered if it could possibly be the Letrozole. I decided to stop taking it but didn't tell anybody. I was amazed that from the first day of stopping, I didn't have any asthma attacks. Two weeks later, and still no attacks, I told my physician what I'd done. I surely can't be the only person who has developed asthma from Letrozole. Why is it not listed in the side effects?"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 27, 2021

"This is a horrible drug! I experienced the following side effects every day! Body aches, felt like an 80-year-old woman. Severe back pain and still wear a back brace due to pain. Brain fog... forgetful. Emotional rollercoaster. Increased my neuropathy symptoms, just overall felt crappy! Off it now 3 weeks, feel so much better! Except for the bone pain, I still have pain in my back... going for therapy. This medicine ruins your quality of life! I stopped it after 15 months. Not going back on it ever!"

• Net...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2023

"I have turned into an 80-year-old. At first, it was not too bad, I was just tired all the time. I've now had to stop working as I can hardly move my arm from a frozen shoulder. I can't actually walk 200 yards without stopping three times. Is this normal?"

• Ini...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2021

Letrozole "Took Femara for 2 years+. Just saw my oncologist recently, and she asked about the joint pain. It has been awful, my joint and muscle pain is excruciating sometimes. I am a young 61 who felt 85. No more snow skiing. Could barely get out of bed many days. My oncologist suggested I take a week off of it, and if it improved the pain, she would prescribe Aromasin. Sure enough, pain all gone, and now I have been on Aromasin a week. Fingers crossed!"

• Old...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2023

"It was okay for the first month. I had hot flushes that subsided after a few weeks. Then the pain in my joints, lack of energy, and low mood kicked in. I didn't feel like doing anything, which was just as well, as I was in a lot of pain just walking around the house. My hips, knees, and lower back were the worst. They hurt all the time - even when I lay down to sleep. After five months of suffering on Letrozole, I was recently told I am pre-diabetic. I have just stopped taking the drug and have a phone appointment to discuss with my GP."

• Old...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2024

"Had a lumpectomy in Oct. 2024, stage 1, grade 2, clear margins and lymph nodes, 5 days of radiation. Just started letrozole, did not want to due to my age, which I will be 83 in a couple of months. I will try this for a while, but if I have too many side effects, I will stop."

• Esr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2021

"I have been using letrozole for 4 months. 3 weeks ago I suddenly started having a lot of postnasal drip. I went to several doctors. They all gave me the same allergy treatment. But it doesn't stop. I've read that hormonal imbalances cause postnasal drip. Has anyone had a postnasal drip while using this drug?"

• Eri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 19, 2024

"I started taking Letrozole Accord brand after lumpectomy. After about six months of taking it, I started experiencing joint pains in my hips, knees, ankles, and fingers. I suffered through the pain out of fear of the cancer returning. Around the second year, I found it so difficult to climb the stairs in my house, I almost had to crawl. It wasn’t until my pharmacy switched the brand of Letrozole that I would have any relief. They said they were not carrying the Accord brand, probably due to better pricing. I was hesitant to try a new brand but basically didn’t have a choice. After about a month on the new brand, I noticed less aching, and I was able to stand from a chair more easily. I hate I suffered for so long. I am convinced the manufacturer makes a difference in the side effects."

• Pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2023

"I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer, triple positive. Started taking letrozole in September 2022. Had hot flashes at first and now dealing with bone pain. I’m hoping to stay on letrozole for the full 10 years, but we shall see."

• Dee...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 28, 2024

"I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, ER positive, not in the lymph nodes. 2.2 cm tumor, grade 2. Because of the grading, my doctor still wanted me to have chemo and radiation. I did 4 accelerated chemo treatments and 25 regular radiation treatments, plus 4 booster radiation treatments. Then I was put on Femara for 5 years. I was so surprised reading all these side effects. I am one of the lucky ones. I didn’t have any side effects. I am 17 years without breast cancer. What I would have done differently is the radiation treatments. I would not have done the 4 booster treatments. I came down with MDS, blood cancer, 8 years ago, which turned into leukemia this year. They believe this happened from too much radiation. I was stage 1. I didn’t need that much radiation."

• Ble...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 12, 2022

"I have tried other related anti-hormone drugs to help on my breast cancer journey. The side effects of Letrozole for my body were the least compared to any others they tried me on over months. There is less bone pain, nausea, sweating, moodiness, fatigue on Letrozole than the others. Everyone's body is different and reacts differently. My personal choice is Letrozole. I highly recommend taking it every night at the same time. I only stopped it a week before my PET scans to help reduce inflammation for the scan. Then I go right back on it. Usually, this week I stop this medication, it doesn't fully leave your body, so it is no issue with the side effects when you continue it."

• Sus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 16, 2024

"After radiotherapy, I was given Letrozole to take for 5 years. I've been taking it for 8 months. First of all, came aches and pains in my joints. I feel weak, my skin has wrinkled so much and is very dry, but now I'm losing hair. It has aged me considerably. I don't feel any benefits but keep taking it as I don't want the cancer to come back."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2021

"I took this med for 6 months. Around the 6-month mark, I got carpal tunnel in both hands. I literally could not use my hands or bend my fingers. My hands were so sore and swollen. I had to get steroid injections in my wrists to alleviate the pain. My doctor just switched me to Aromasin. We will give that a try and see if it's better. I would not take letrozole again."

• JFi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 31, 2021

"Had stage 1 breast cancer in January 2015, started on tamoxifen. Oncologist had me switch in 2017 to letrozole. Have wet macular degeneration. I am being treated for that with injections. I have been having lots of joint pain. Now I have noticed I had a Dexa in 2019, and now in 2021 have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. So since the beginning of 2021, I have started to become a hot mess. Talked to my oncologist, and we now are stopping letrozole. I have had over 5 years of drugs. I feel the side effects of the drugs are damaging, that you sometimes have to wonder if it’s worth it. At 61, I am extremely active, walk between 8-10 miles during the week at work, along with 3 sets of steps 3 times daily. I also exercise at night when I get home. Hope they can somehow work to improve these drugs."

• Mol...
• June 5, 2021

"I took tamoxifen for 5 years, then was switched to letrozole. For the first 6 months, I had no issues. Gradually, I noticed a stiffening in my joints: knees, hips, shoulders, ankles. Eventually, I couldn’t get out of bed. I stopped EVERYTHING for one week and felt better. My oncologist switched me back to tamoxifen. After 4 weeks, I can move again. Of course, the hot flashes returned with tamoxifen. Two more weeks and I visit the oncologist to discuss options - I am so happy I can walk again."

• Lis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 16, 2023

"I was diagnosed with Stage 2 & Stage 3 ILC breast cancer in 2017. 8 out of 18 lymph nodes were ER/PR positive. Left Radical mastectomy, risk reducing right mastectomy. Followed by 6 months of chemo, 5 1/2 weeks of daily radiation, and 1 year of Herceptin/Perjeta every 3 weeks. I am 6 years out from diagnosis, taking Letrozole 2.5mg daily. I have another 5 years to go on Letrozole. I do have stiff joints in my fingers and hands. Unable to make a fist without pain. Bike riding is out for me. The radiation gave me stiffness and pain in my left chest/arm, and I am unable to straighten my left arm."

• lmf...
• April 6, 2009

Letrozole "For the past two years I've used Femara with no side effects at all, and still cancer-free for 5 years now."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2011

Letrozole "My main concern was the memory loss. I could tolerate the hot flashes. The 'morning sickness' was undesired and difficult, but the memory loss is something I can't deal with."

• Not...
• September 9, 2016

Letrozole "Considering going off of it. Too many severe side effects such as painful hands and feet, tendinitis of wrists, weight gain."

• lkw...
• April 23, 2012

Letrozole "I have been on Femara for 4 months. Hand pain and weight gain."

• fir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2013

"Got aches and pains in shoulders, knees, stiffness after sitting, trigger fingers and thumb-left hand, thinning hair."

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2009

Letrozole "I am having tremors in hands and feet. Joint pain and general feeling of ill health. Cannot handle it."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2016

"Stiff fingers and legs, joint pain, swollen fingers and toes, hip pain, hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2023

Letrozole "I have been on Femara for 5 months so far for breast cancer. I will need to take it for 5 years. I have absolutely no side effects, in fact, I am feeling quite well. I hope it stays that way."

• Fox...
• March 1, 2017

"Morning joint stiffness progressing to hip, wrist, shoulder stiffness and pain. Hip pain is the most bothersome. Also, dry mouth and some hair loss."