Switch from letrozole to exemestane

I have the same problem which is why I’m hesitant to stop medications. Did chemo because oncotype positive. Tumor marker dropped about 20 points (needed to drop 50 to hit high normal), then after 3 months started back up again almost to start level. At that point, he ordered brain MRI and pet scan. Neither of which showed new tumor growth. Then it dropped back to where it was before, then another 10 points and that’s where I sit. He said it can happen and as long as stays stable, monitor but not considered a problem. Easy to say but sits in your mind that maybe there’s a reason. And yes, I’ve read multiple articles about tumor marker specificity and that some feel they’re worthless but my doctor still uses them for monitoring and I have to feel he knows what he’s doing. I’ll look into the Pectasol (haven’t heard about that before), already researching other naturals like mushrooms.

Natural estrogen's blocker is suggested by NutritionFacts.org Dr Greger who is a Vegan but will you follow him using plant base food, he shows you research papers but not sure if they do trials like the pharma do when they develop drugs. Really not sure, the world is pro pharma who at the end produce drugs that save lives and makes tons of money but you have to spend more money on side effects, rather producing drugs with natural ingredients which has no side effects so we don't need to spend more money to buy drugs to treat side effects!

Hi MistyMar,
I feel your pain. I feel trapped by being told I must take this or one of the aromatase inhibitors (pick your poison) the rest of my life. All the side effects you mentioned, not to mention osteoporosis and linked to cardiac issues, as well. “Yes, we can delay your death from cancer, but you will feel lousy, be tired all the time and have painful side effects, but we can give you more drugs for what ails you. The cancer might not kill you yet, but the massive amounts of drugs and their side effects might. Depressing.

I fully agree. I’ve always said I’m not doing the “circular medicine” - take this medication, now take this one to stop the side effects of the other one, now take this medication……. Everything here is rock vs hard place. No, you don’t have to do chemo but if you have mets in 2 years, too late to say “gee, I should have done chemo”. This is the same. I really don’t want to have to go through all this again so not sure I want to stop this medication if I don’t absolutely have to BUT there is that quality of life issue. My cancer group is saying 5 years only (claims research shows no difference between taking 5 vs 10 years) so hopefully that holds but things can change as we get closer. Luckily so far, heart tests normal and last bone scan was also normal without taking any bone meds (I declined). So I stay on the meds and try to survive all this that according to them aren’t side effects of the medication. Not sure I would survive without forums like this and knowing it’s not just me.

I think it’s time that people were more honest - it’s often put across as ‘ take these you are ok’ far from the reality .
I certainly feel I was not given enough information and feel it’s expected of me to ‘feel ok’.

@huskey7

Has anyone in your family had genetic testing?

Even with genetic testing, there may be some genes that are not tested.

Plus, they say that this is only 10% of the population with gene mutations.

I fully agree. I’ve always said I’m not doing the “circular medicine” - take this medication, now take this one to stop the side effects of the other one, now take this medication……. Everything here is rock vs hard place. No, you don’t have to do chemo but if you have mets in 2 years, too late to say “gee, I should have done chemo”. This is the same. I really don’t want to have to go through all this again so not sure I want to stop this medication if I don’t absolutely have to BUT there is that quality of life issue. My cancer group is saying 5 years only (claims research shows no difference between taking 5 vs 10 years) so hopefully that holds but things can change as we get closer. Luckily so far, heart tests normal and last bone scan was also normal without taking any bone meds (I declined). So I stay on the meds and try to survive all this that according to them aren’t side effects of the medication. Not sure I would survive without forums like this and knowing it’s not just me.