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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Letrozole
Question: I'm on Letrozole after treatment of stage 3 breast cancer and I want to know what the risk is if I stop taking it, and what are the results of the cancer not returning if taken for the 5 years. I have joint pain, depressed, terrible hot flushes on letrozole. I'm 62, exercise every day, slim and a non smoker. I can hardly walk when I get out of bed, until I get going and have pain in just about every part of my body.
Brief answer....must not stop it without talking to your treating doctor
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
LETROZOLE is the drug which is given for breast cancers in post menopausal females where the cancer is found to be dependent on hormone estrogen to grow.
since your cancer must be estrogen dependent it is a estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
Studies show LETROZOLE to be the best drug suited for this purpose.
Use of this drug is associated with many side effects like thinning of bones,hot flushes,joints and muscle pain,dizziness,mood and behavioural changes,headache etc,as being felt and faced by you.
Normally such side effects tend to subside after few months of regular use of the drug but in some unfortunate patients,side effects don't subside and really cause lot of problems.
The fact is you definitely need some drug to counter the effect of estrogen hormones and a hormonal therapy is a must.
In my opinion, cnsidering the fact that you are not able tolerate these side effects,you can talk to your doctor regarding the use of other hormonal therapies like TAMOXIFEN.
Never stop this drug of your own because stopping may result in coming back of your breast cancer.
If used regularly for five years chances of cancer returning are diminished quite a lot.
I hope it helps,however you are most welcome to revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
LETROZOLE is the drug which is given for breast cancers in post menopausal females where the cancer is found to be dependent on hormone estrogen to grow.
since your cancer must be estrogen dependent it is a estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
Studies show LETROZOLE to be the best drug suited for this purpose.
Use of this drug is associated with many side effects like thinning of bones,hot flushes,joints and muscle pain,dizziness,mood and behavioural changes,headache etc,as being felt and faced by you.
Normally such side effects tend to subside after few months of regular use of the drug but in some unfortunate patients,side effects don't subside and really cause lot of problems.
The fact is you definitely need some drug to counter the effect of estrogen hormones and a hormonal therapy is a must.
In my opinion, cnsidering the fact that you are not able tolerate these side effects,you can talk to your doctor regarding the use of other hormonal therapies like TAMOXIFEN.
Never stop this drug of your own because stopping may result in coming back of your breast cancer.
If used regularly for five years chances of cancer returning are diminished quite a lot.
I hope it helps,however you are most welcome to revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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