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Letrozole side effects and timing?
Could those of you you are taking or have taken letrozole share when side effects started to appear? I have been taking it since April 2025 and within the last month I am losing hair, feel some stomach and intestine discomfort and some joint and low back pain. I work out and do yoga and breathing which helps the joint and back but has anyone else noticed their hair falling out or thinning? Also do these side effects go away after a bit or do they get worse over time? What are your experiences? I have to stay on this for a long time and would love to prepare myself. Thanks.
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Hair loss was my most significant and bothersome side effect. I was switched to exemestane but hair loss continued. I saw a dermatologist.
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1 ReactionWhen did you hair loss start and how long did it go on? What did the dermatologist do to stop it? I am so upset. My oncologist also said all the drugs to block estrogen have this potential side effect. Were you able to grow hair back with your doctors help or stop it from falling out?
After chemo I lost all hair. Then the hair started to grow back but kept falling out. This continued over my two year history of treatment. I saw a dermatologist this summer and was prescribed minoxidil. The medication is working. The daily amounts of hair on comb and brush are greatly reduced.
thanks so much. I am sorry to hear that you had to do chemo and letrozole.
Hello,
I have been on Letrozole for a couple of months now. I haven't experienced any major side effects however I just went in for my physical and my liver enzymes are elevated. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you, Corey
@ccc1965 I think your oncologist will keep watching your liver. I haven’t experienced this but I was told that they will watch for impacts. Maybe your body is adjusting? I would call your oncologist and personal doctor and discuss it with them. Good luck to you!
I had been on letrozole for 3 months now and the stomachs problems is a side effect . It had increased my acid reflux because I have hiatal hernia. I recommend taking it with a full meal and a glass of water I had done it and so far feel much better. I had no hair loss so far. No joint pain so far I do exercise and zumba. Do some light weigh lifting and take a calcium supplement . My oncologist suggested 1200 mg of calcium supplement
I did notice hair shedding - I started using Vegamore Shampoo and conditioner and their serum and it has gotten much better. I have been on it since April 0f 2025. Sometimes I get hot flashes but the joint aches and pains seem controlled when I exercise and stitch and do yoga. I also lift weights to try to precent bone loss since I do not want to take more drugs.
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1 Reaction@ccc1965
I had elevated ALT and AST enzymes within a month of taking anastrozole, and an MRI and CT scan showed a drug induced liver injury. I was then put on letrozole, and my enzymes have been in the normal range or only slightly elevated. Letrozole is not as hard on the liver as anastrozole. My oncologist said that aromatase inhibitors don't usually cause elevated liver enzymes, but I am hearing of more and more breast cancer patients talk about elevated liver enzymes. I wish you the best!
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1 Reaction@teacher22 thanks for your insight. How often does your oncologist check your liver? While I have had blood work done since I started letrozole in April it hasn’t been ordered by my oncologist.