Letrozole and hair loss

Joelsnan Oestrogen cold turkey! You have summed up the condition perfectly.

venall
I started taking Letrozole October 2018. In June 2019 I changed to Anastrozole because of the bad joint pains I am getting a lot of pain in remaining boob. It was thought the change may help this but it hasnt. I am obviously in the depths of Oestrogen cold turkey ☹️?

Thank you for your input, vena11 it certainly helps to compare notes. Wishing you well.

soop I think you get use to it and yes I am the same 10 years well 7 now in my case is along time.

venal1 I've been taking Letrozole since March. Will need to take it for ten years - by which time I shall be eighty eight. The tiredness is extreme. I get angry with myself for feeling useless. Yet, like you and thousands of others, I feel immensely grateful for having the medication that can prolong my life.

How long have you been on the letrozole Joelnan and soop I have been on it for three years and yes I feel I cant do things like I use to at 65 I did not think I would be like that but at least we are still here. My Oncologist offered to give me an alternative but on reading up on the different ones I decided not to change as they all had much the same symptoms unfortunately.

Joelsnan Thank you so much for your message. I was beginning to get very annoyed with myself for feeling as "useless" as I do since being prescribed Letrozole. Like you, I lead a very active life. We helped to build the home in which we live. I was chief painter and decorator. We would hill walk and I was also responsible for the main garden. Now...I'm buggered. I feel drained. I want to remain positive. I am truly grateful that the cancer is under control. I also feel guilty that I am so lack-lustre. There are people dealing with far worse than I am. Your message has helped. I may ask the cancer nurse whether there is an alternative Oestrogen inhibitor. If so, I shall share my findings with you.

I certainly am frustrated because my ‘get up and go’ has definitely gone.
I find I tend to be okay until about lunchtime then I can feel my battery running down, not that I need to sleep, (though I sometimes do). Its just that my body seems to get very heavy.
Before I was diagnosed I was busy doing lots of things including DIY on my little house. This week I have had to get a decorator in to finish my work because I just cannot do it. I know I shouldn't but I do get mad with myself. I joined a gym to get fit but the joint pain prevents me from going.
I do find getting to sleep a bit of a chore. I have lymphoedema, my ribs are sore from radiotherapy and the pain in my joints make finding a comfortable sleeping position a problem and this probably also feeds into my fatigue as well as the now regular nocturnal visits to the loo.
I do sometimes wonder if this is it for the rest of my life, but don't dwell on it too long because I could get quite miserable but I wont allow myself to and do try to carry on a normal life as much as possible and I have not let myself be defined by my ‘problem’, but I do wish they could find something other than Letrozole to inhibit Oestrogen production or find something to offset its side effects.
When I feel a bit miserable I think of young women coping with home, family, work and suffering the ongoing problems that a BC diagnosis brings. I now have only myself to contend with ?

Are those of you taking Letrozole feeling extreme fatigue?

The infusion that I have next month is Zoledronic Acid. Twice yearly ad infinitum.

My ibandronic acid tabs is a monthy one Joelsnan 150mg . Must be hard taking them everyday even the 50mg ones.

Best wishes to everyone .

venal1 and Joelsnan We are being well cared for. With all medications there are negative reactions. Like you, I am thankful to have survived what could have been a far worse senario. Best wishes.

I have been taking Letrozole/Anastrozole since last October. When my hair grew back after chemo it was very curly (still is), but I have noticed that it is quite thin on top. Luckily the curls make it less obvious, but its quite scary to see it when my hair is wet.
I am really suffering with side effects of this medication but been told its a case of quality of life against length of life so I am trying to persevere.
I am also taking Ibandronic acid for the bones I take one tablet each morning.

I am on Idandronic Acid soop think its much the same treatment but its a monthy bone tablet it gives bone pain too so it and letrozole is a double wammy , we are alive so that's the main thing.

I've been taking Letrozole since mastectomy following breast cancer in February. My hair, thus far, is fine. I have joint pain and fatigue. Early days. Very grateful to be prescribed medication that is deemed to be a first class oestrogen inhibitor. Due a second infusion of zoleric (? spelling) acid next month. Anyone having that treatment?

Letrazole is a oestrogen inhibiter I have been on it for three years now after breast cancer, my hair is thicker now maybe it is because it grew back in grey after the chemo, but I do suffer quite a few other side affects from leg pain ect. I do know of some people who do suffer thinning hair.

There are so many women at the moment having hair loss
Especially those on HRT, but so many medications cause it

I am on Anastrozole and my hair is a little thinner. I think it is all to do with the depletion of oestrogen. I have heard Biotin can help. I only use pure shampoos.

Never heard of Letrazole is it an HRT? I have lost lots of hair throught HRT but there are lots of threads on gransnet, if you scroll back a few threads,or put hair loss in a search
Lots on mumsnet too
Some shampoos are ones without sulphates,which is what you need probably, i have tried caffeine shampoo, no difference either,
I can empathise with you but try Biotin, the hair i have left is growing like weeds after taking biotin