Lupron Injection plus Exemestane

Why would you take Lupron? It decreases production of testosterone? You should ask your oncologist to fully explain the use of that drug. I would be interested in the explanation. Good luck.

Lupron shut down ovaries and stop them from producing estrogen so there is less estrogen to fuel the growth of hormone receptor positive breast cancer - my cancer was estrogen positive.

Hello,

I take Lupron and a different AI. I adjusted to Lupron quite well. However, I had chemotherapy, which probably helped since it also shuts down your ovaries - so the adjustment to Lupron wasn't quite so bad.

Also, how old are you? I'm 47. My oncologist said the younger you are, the more difficult Lupron is.

In general, my first six months with Lupron and the AI was the most difficult. I did have some muscle soreness, particularly in the mornings. However, I powered through it, exercising every day. I had read in medical journals that the first six months was the worst for side effects. Sure enough, I started to feel better after that time frame, and now, I am much better. My oncologist said it takes time for your body to adjust to new medications. I do still have hot flashes in the evenings and sometimes at night when sleeping.

Tamoxifen works for some people, but not everyone. That's why my doctor suggested Lupron and an AI. It can be somewhat more effective.

Good morning, I was diagnosed with ER/PR+ Metastatic Breast Cancer back in 2019. I was immediately put on Ibrance, Letrozole & Lupron Injection. Horrible side effects from the Letrozole and was switched to Exemestane. Gained 20 lbs. and had experienced numbness in hands. I had NEDS in 2020, but it returned in 2021 in the same spot it started (my left breast). At that point, my doctor suggest I have my ovaries removed. Finally? So I took that Lupron injection shot every 30 days to suppress my ovaries and should of had them removed when I was diagnosed in 2019. Why make us go through so much with toxicity, etc. I firmly believe that ANYONE diagnosed with ER positive breast cancer should have their ovaries removed. Of course, that's not the only area in your body to produce hormones, but it will limit it greatly.

Hi

I’m 45 so we’re almost the same age. 😊

Seeing my oncologist tomorrow and thinking about stopping all meds for a month.

Hi there,

What treatment did you do?! Lumpectomy? Mastectomy?

Hi kaloa808, I never went through a lumpectomy/mastectomy. Long story. When I was first diagnosed, my original doctor wanted to set me up for a Mastectomy, then followed by hormonal and chemo. I told my doctor I did not want to go down the path of chemo, so he had me go through a CT scan, Bone Scan and finally a PET Scan. The Bone Scan showed it had traveled to 2 of my vertebrae on my back, so it was metastatic. Because of this, he stated that having a Mastectomy done was no longer an option. Ironically, given the type of cancer I was diagnosed with, the discussion of having an Oophorectomy to have my ovaries removed never came up until 2022. By then, I was with a completely different doctor and hospital.

Any updates? I’m on Lupron after lumpectomy (minimal side effects, if any). Did Tamoxifen for a while, with minimal side effects, but a lesion in my retina gave us a scare, so we stopped the tamoxifen. I’m set to start exemestane soon, and I’m scared because everyone seems to have terrible side effects. I’ve already experienced a flare up of an old injury (lumbar sacral disc shrinkage/arthritis). 🙁

I started exemestane several months ago. So far it has been the best AI for me. I tried both of the others. I’m walking every day 10,000 steps and my joint and muscle pain is much better. I still get tired and hair looks old but for me it’s the best option for me.