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Mentor

Letrozole and Cholesterol

Posted by Laurie, Volunteer Mentor @roch, Jul 8, 2019

I have suggestion for anyone who is going to start letrozole. Ask your doctor about having your LIPIDS / Cholesterol tested prior to starting and then again after you have been on Letrozole for a few months. I did not have tested prior, my dr did not mention that letrozole could increase cholesterol. I had always had to watch my cholesterol but never required medication.

A few months after starting letrozole I had cholesterol tested as part routine check up and was surprised how much it had increase from previous test two years ago. How much of increase was due to letrozole vs diet could not tell because did not test prior to starting new medication. I talked to oncologist and primary dr about. Increase cholesterol is a known side effect of letrozole. After reviewing other factors that contribute to cardiac disease (blood pressure, family history, etc…) they both agreed I should stay on Letrozole and I do not have to start cholesterol meds, YEAH ! Did not need a new medication and new set of side effects.

Laurie

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Randy 36 | @randy36 | Mar 9, 2023
In reply to @timely "I have arthritis in both knees and hands. I never had any knee pain except very..." + (show)
@timely

I have arthritis in both knees and hands.
I never had any knee pain except very unusually wth a season change.
I have taken Glucosamine 1,500 mg andCondroitin 1,200 for years 2 times a day + 2 capsules of hyaluronic acid (collagen) + Arthro Max NT2 Collagen & ApresFlex 2 capsules.

But, since I have had Covid in October, I have knee and joint pains, finger pain and elbow pain. Not really bad, but when I wake up.
This is one of the effects of Covid as it effects the bones and joints.

I am continuing the above as it does help. I have not even started Lestrolze yet which causes this pain also.

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One other important item I found helps is vitamin D level. Prior to having breast cancer, my primary used to monitor my vitamin D levels. I was on the low end of normal range, in the 30's. Most doctors even now tell me that is fine. When I was boosted for a 6 week period my levels went dramatically to the higher limits of normal, in the low 60's. Dramatic improvement in my general arthritic discomfort. My depression and energy improved greatly. I'm not a doctor but I'm just saying... Because of my cancer surgeries and a doctor who didn't like that I was taking supplements, I discontinued all of them for 5 months pre and post op. My vitamin D level was just checked and it is down in the 30's....still within normal limits but feeling fatigued, depressed, and achy all over which I blamed solely on the leterozole. You are not on it yet so maybe you should consider this. I started my vitamins again and 1 month later my vit. D level is in the high 40's...My aches and pains, depression, and fatigue are melting away. I wish the medical community would pay more attention to vitamin D levels and start studies as I believe the range needs to be better defined and individualized. I hope this helps you "timely".

REPLY
1 reply
timely | @timely | Mar 9, 2023
In reply to @randy36 "One other important item I found helps is vitamin D level. Prior to having breast cancer,..." + (show)
@randy36

One other important item I found helps is vitamin D level. Prior to having breast cancer, my primary used to monitor my vitamin D levels. I was on the low end of normal range, in the 30's. Most doctors even now tell me that is fine. When I was boosted for a 6 week period my levels went dramatically to the higher limits of normal, in the low 60's. Dramatic improvement in my general arthritic discomfort. My depression and energy improved greatly. I'm not a doctor but I'm just saying... Because of my cancer surgeries and a doctor who didn't like that I was taking supplements, I discontinued all of them for 5 months pre and post op. My vitamin D level was just checked and it is down in the 30's....still within normal limits but feeling fatigued, depressed, and achy all over which I blamed solely on the leterozole. You are not on it yet so maybe you should consider this. I started my vitamins again and 1 month later my vit. D level is in the high 40's...My aches and pains, depression, and fatigue are melting away. I wish the medical community would pay more attention to vitamin D levels and start studies as I believe the range needs to be better defined and individualized. I hope this helps you "timely".

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Hi Randy36 @randy36

High levels of vitamin D are supposed to even stop cancer.

I have been taking 5,000 mg of vitamin D for years. Did not even consider that it helped with arthritis. !!! My vitamin D is at the highest normal level.
My medical Oncologist let me take all my herbals and vitamins except C during and after surgery and during radiation.

I wonder if the radiation causes an achy effect afterwards.

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1 reply
Randy 36 | @randy36 | Mar 9, 2023
In reply to @timely "Hi Randy36 @randy36 High levels of vitamin D are supposed to even stop cancer. I have..." + (show)
@timely

Hi Randy36 @randy36

High levels of vitamin D are supposed to even stop cancer.

I have been taking 5,000 mg of vitamin D for years. Did not even consider that it helped with arthritis. !!! My vitamin D is at the highest normal level.
My medical Oncologist let me take all my herbals and vitamins except C during and after surgery and during radiation.

I wonder if the radiation causes an achy effect afterwards.

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So happy to hear you are good with your Vit D levels and that your doctors are aware and supportive of this. Sadly, I haven't found a doctor that is knowledgeable enough to be supportive. I'm still well within my 1st year since diagnosis. It is hard to Dr. shop while under treatment. As for the after-effects of radiation, I do not know, but it is possible. Don't give up! Decreased activity due to post-surgical and post-radiation/chemo can certainly cause fatigue. Activity is so important yet so difficult when in pain. Please let us know what works for you.

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Randy 36 | @randy36 | May 17, 2023
In reply to @healinhand "I would like to see the results, please...." + (show)
@healinhand

I would like to see the results, please....

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I will let you know. Testing is in October.

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debbie2721 | @debbie2721 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @debbie2721 "Does glucosamine and chrondroitin help with bone pain? What dosage and strength do you take? I..." + (show)
@debbie2721

Does glucosamine and chrondroitin help with bone pain? What dosage and strength do you take? I walk 5 to 6 miles but at night I often wake up with bone pain.

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I do not take glucosamine or chrondroitin.
I use theraworx for pain in my feet and legs. My oncologist just switched me from anastrozole to a low dose of tamoxafin.

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gldilli | @gldilli | Aug 31, 2023

I have been taking Anastrozole, another AI, for almost 18 months and my total LDL cholesterol levels have been steadily increasing (currently 199) during that time, despite weight loss, better eating, etc. My glucose, HDL and ratios are good. Research shows that the standard blood tests do not tell the whole story. Not all LDL is bad. An NMR lipid profile will breakdown the the LDL into the benign and bad categories. Unfortunately a lot of doctors just look at the total LDL levels and put people on statins unnecessarily. Turned out my “bad”cholesterol was in the acceptable range so no statins.

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1 reply
Sue Ellen Murrey | @semurrey | Sep 1, 2023
In reply to @debbie2721 "Does glucosamine and chrondroitin help with bone pain? What dosage and strength do you take? I..." + (show)
@debbie2721

Does glucosamine and chrondroitin help with bone pain? What dosage and strength do you take? I walk 5 to 6 miles but at night I often wake up with bone pain.

Jump to this post

Hi ! I've been on Letrozole since Feb 2023 and have osteopenia already so was worried about worsening etc. I take algae calcium from New Chapter and added Omega 3's and I really believe the Omega 3's are helping with joint pain as well as lots of walking through out the day. Good luck! Keep us posted on how you are feeing. xo

REPLY
Sue Ellen Murrey | @semurrey | Sep 1, 2023
In reply to @gldilli "I have been taking Anastrozole, another AI, for almost 18 months and my total LDL cholesterol..." + (show)
@gldilli

I have been taking Anastrozole, another AI, for almost 18 months and my total LDL cholesterol levels have been steadily increasing (currently 199) during that time, despite weight loss, better eating, etc. My glucose, HDL and ratios are good. Research shows that the standard blood tests do not tell the whole story. Not all LDL is bad. An NMR lipid profile will breakdown the the LDL into the benign and bad categories. Unfortunately a lot of doctors just look at the total LDL levels and put people on statins unnecessarily. Turned out my “bad”cholesterol was in the acceptable range so no statins.

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Yes! My total cholesterol was up with I believe Letrozole but my ratio good so no statins. I will say it must be Letrozole as I've always been a good plant based eater - avocados and olive oil being really the big "fats" so I'm hoping to stay away from statins.

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