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My Oncologist had me go off of it for a week before and a week after the hysterectomy surgery and now he wants me to continue taking it until my next appointment and check my bloodwork. It sounded like once those results were back and if I am in “surgery induced menopause”, he wants to switch me to Letrozole. So I’m just kind of waiting for that appointment. I’m not sure which is worse, Tamoxifen or Letrozole. Tamoxifen side effects have been rough, especially emotionally.
Did your doc say anything about switching meds after your hysterectomy?
Thank you! I am finally starting to feel like I’m on the mend from the hysterectomy.
Replies to "My Oncologist had me go off of it for a week before and a week after..."
I've received a couple of second opinions and both docs have said, it's really up to me. One suggested trying Raloxifene instead. I've not heard/read much about Letrozole but I will do some research there. I'm going to Texas next week for a consultation. I had totally unrelated type of cancer 24 years ago and the radiation side effects have shown up in the last few years. I am dealing with those and of course, happy to be here. But I'm not sure I'm up for more issues like I experienced with Tamoxifen. I am going to ask about a mastectomy. I know it's not ideal but I'm super sensitive to drugs and have family history of strokes/aneurysms so the meds worry me since blood clots are a side effect of Tamoxifen.
I'm so glad you are feeling better! Would love to hear what you end up doing.
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Had both Letrozole & Tamoxifen & likewise very different experiences but both really bad.
Tamoxifen caused significant head & eye pain & effected my vision plus the more usual menopause probs. As the head & sight problems got progressively worse I was taken off the Tamoxifen after only a two weeks. I was told these were rare sidc effects & the drug obviously was causing these extreme issues. I stopped & within 2days ALL the side effects went.
Next I was put on Letrozole & within a hour if taking I was having problems.
I preserved as I was told I had to stay on these.
3 days later I could barely get out of bed or function.
I stuck.with it & progressively felt like my brain was shutting down.
I asked you come off it & blankly told no. Give it more time.
I continued & literally felt like I was suffering dementia.
I decided to stop for a day & see what happened. I immediately felt a bit better & so stopped for 3 days & rhgn felt back to normal.
My breast care surgeon was frantic & aside I had to go back on them. So I did & so the brain cells feeling of deteriation & lack of cognitive function just daily git worse & worse.
I stopped driving as I was totally unable to. I stopped most daily activities as I could barely look after my self & eventually decided to stop the tables.
This is were I am now.
Do I have no QUALITY OF LIFE by tsking Letrozole or refuse the tablets & risk Cancer returning which could take my life ???