Chemical menopause and letrazole

[VividDeer]

I started another thread linked below.

My doctor has given the option of ovarian suppression injections and leterazole. I'm 47 and not very menopausal yet.

I reacted badly to tamoxifen.

Has anyone had this treatment and can tell me about side effects, good or bad?

It doesnt make a huge difference to my overall survival gains on predict tool, but oncologist said that doesnt cover recurrence.

Still have a list of questions and currently about 50/50. I didn't have chemotherapy.
Invasive lobular, hormone pos, her2 negative, oncotype 18. 15x radiotherapy sessions.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/cancer/5506570-cant-tolerate-tamoxifen-they-wont-do-chemo-now-will-they?reply=151322443

I have Zoladex & exemestane. Zoladex gave me hot flushes for about 6 weeks, then was ok. Exemestane gives me stiff painful joints but it’s improved by exercise. I’ll be fine on it for five years or so. Give it a go. You can always swap to another AI.

I hated tamoxifen too. Horrible drug.

Ps join us on the cancer recovery thread. You’ll get more specific answers there.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5483933-the-great-cancer-recovery-part-5?page=4&reply=151132873

@Littlecaf thank you. Good to have a positive response. Encouraging that you got on with it better than tamoxifen. I itched from head to toe like I was going to scratch my skin off.

This sounds vain, but I struggle with my weight. Did you put lots on during the initial stages?

I'll check into the other thread too.

Thank you

Hmm, I'm 53 and would say that my peri symptoms started about a year ago (joint aches, hot flushes waking me up at night etc). I started HRT in May, which relieved all symptoms, then was diagnosed in September so had to stop HRT and have my mirena coil removed - no periods since.

I'd say I'm definitely at the end of fertility but not yet confirmed as post menopause. So a bit further down the menopause track to you.

I started Letrozole 5 weeks ago, and haven’t really noticed much difference.
Having stopped HRT, the hot flushes returned (although they are flushes not sweats for me), and these affect my sleep.
I also have itchy ears.

I have some joint pain, but I don't think it is at the level it was pre-HRT for me.

I'm around 1 stone heavier than I want to be, which I am trying to lose - but I'm seeing it as a long haul not a quick fix.
I have been hungrier than usual over the last 6 months with my body recovering from surgery & radio plus starting strength training via the clinic gym where I had my radio.
I haven't gained, but it isn't coming off very quickly either.

Good luck!

@VividDeer hello - yes I’ve put on about a stone - not great, the breast care centre where I had my treatment has a menopause clinic and I discussed this with my oncologist - I don’t like the fact I’ve put on weight but I’m about 14 months post chemo and surgery so I still feel in recovery - I swim and strength train and will concentrate on loosing weight over the next year. I decided to take it one step at a time. I do find it ironic that one of the risk factors in recurrence is weight, yet we get given a drug that makes us put on weight! My oncologist suggested Noom, Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal etc. She said there wasn’t enough evidence for GLP-1s and interactions with cancer - I said maybe I’ll try that in 5 years when everything else has settle down!