Aromatase Inhibitors: How to choose and manage side effects?

Hi there, I have ulnar nerve damage from radiation. Causing my right hand to be partially numb and weak. I also have lymphodeama in the same arm. I am now on Exemastane, generic, which is reducing my cancer load quite significantly. I have never heard of an AI causing Ulnar nerve damage. Is that common??

Dear Lifetraveler:
I feel the same way, my friend! Thank you again for being here! Sending with Love.

Hi! Myoga, my friend:

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! I truly feel that you are one of my old friends now, even though we "met" in spirit during this unexpected journey of fighting the disease of BC. Meeting you and other comrades sharing this forum becomes one of my blessings in disguise in my life. Thank you!

Back in November of 2023 when my PCP first identified this strange lump growing on me during my annual physical exam, suddenly I felt like a wayfaring stranger travelling through this world of woe; thus I gave myself this username to reflect my own mentality at that time. Just as they say, the rest is history:) So here we are, encouraging one another along this journey of life~~

Wishing you all a blessed journey ahead with better health, hope, peace in mind and love in heart to enjoy your loved ones!

I'm too grateful to have connected with you on this forum. It's a comfort to have true friends here to lean on while fighting this disease. Thank you for such a kind response. I love your user's name Lifetraveler. (I think I said it before) HUGS

Hi! @myoga:

Thank you so much for sharing this link and your insights!

I, too, read some articles regarding the possible correlation between taking AI medication and dementia, and concluded that the results are mixed or inclusive at this point. I am grateful to hear from you and knowing that you've been recovering steadily well comforts me:)

Better journey ahead, my friend!

I think this is the article she mentioned. As I search, there are quite a few articles pointing to opposite direction. Nothing is concrete about this finding, but we can always hope. The key is looking for credible websites, ethical statements, and conflict of interest statements.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821165
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11803411/

I made the choice to stop Letrozole in 2020 after lumpectomy and radiation for ILC Stage 2. At the end of 2024 I was diagnosed with ILC Stage 2 in the other breast. Doc says it is a new Cancer and not related to the last one so don't feel bad about stopping the Letrozole. It wouldn't have changed the outcome. Now I am through the second lumpectomy and radiation and taking Exemstrane. It makes me nauseous and depressed. I am trying to allow my body time to adjust by taking 1/2 tablet with dinner. Now I wake up nauseous. This seems like a pretty powerful drug.

That’s my question! Does it really make a difference in reoccurrence? I’ve suffered through some debilitating side effects, some requiring multiple surgeries. Are the chemicals in these big pharma medications doing more harm to my body? Wrecking havoc for sure! I think the answer is yes! I’ve experienced it.
Absolutely the million dollar question! 😘

I’m in the exact same situation and I’m not sure what I’m going to do. There are days I feel confident in just being done and other days I feel like I need to fight through the side effects of the drugs. But, I’m not sure that it’s worth it with the way that I feel and does it really make that significant of a change in my fight against the cancer reoccurrence

I have been on Anastrozole for 2.5 years. I was told to take it at bedtime. I had joint pain and could not sleep. I was told to take it every other day and after a meal. Now all I have is some pains in left breast that I had reduction surgery on after my right breast mastectomy.