Hello VivvyG,

I had a similar treatment programme such as yours. Diagnosed in Oct 2019. Completed radiotherapy in February 2020. (SO lucky it was just pre-Covid!) 

I was prescribed Letrozole for a 5 year period. I had looked up the side affects and felt ambivalent about taking them from the get-go. They virtually age you over night!  Painful movement is just the pits particularly if you are like me and want to walk and swim. I think you have done brilliantly well to have persevered for 2 years especially as you were ailing so badly. Well done!!  
 

Anyway like you the protection the meds offer me is tiny and I don't feel it's really worth it. Hence I take them every other day. Not actually sure why but I guess I am trying to hang on to some of the  benefits??!! I doubt it works that way as if not taken as directed, I am pretty sure  they won't help. Anyway it's what I am doing. As such I don't get much joint pain or any adverse  symptoms so far. 

I am replying just to say I completely 'get' what you are saying. The hormonal meds prescribed to women after breast cancer are harsh and generally debilitating. I am amazed that better, less harmful drugs are still not available. My sister-in-law was offered these drugs and she had cancer over 30 years ago!! Certainly there has been no real improvement of them throughout this time. 
 

No one can say what's right or wrong for you. Only you can do that. I am making my way through it as best I can. I will likely bail out of the meds altogether though.  In doing so I will lose about 1.5% protection from a recurrence. It's not massive is it?
 

Take care. I wish you well. 
Kebbs.  

Yep, I was a bit thick, I perused the information and still didn't twig the anastrozole was giving me the severity of the pain - to be fair, neither my doctor nor the oncology specialist nurse identified to me it was the cause of my joint pain either.  But, as you say, each to their own, I don't want to deteriorate further so I have chosen to take the small increased risk of recurrence and stop taking the drug.  I wish you the best.

Oh what a sensible idea - it didn't even occur to me to reduce the dosage.  I do wish you well in your perseverance. X

Hi there everyone. I have been taking Anastrazole for a year now. Started last September and initially ok but around February this year started with very bad joint pains, mostly in the knees and feet. Really bad in the morning and end of day when I have been sitting for a while. Had several phone consultations with GP who said nothing to do with the medication and gave me Naproxen which did no good.
Anyway had my one year check up with breast Consultant on Tuesday this week and he said definitely the Anastrazole. He advised not to stop taking medication so has changed me to Letrozole which I will start taking next week. I do hope it improves things as got another four years of taking meds.

I try to do lots of walking every day so as not to seize up but some days I really do struggle with the joint pain

Hi Lorraine thanks for your reply. Am just going to go to the pharmacy to collect my first pack of Letrozole instead of Anastrazole. Really hope this helps with the joint pains but not holding out much hope. I too am taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Not sure how much it is helping but have been taking these less than two months.

i do lots of walking which I think helps the joints so trying to keep as active as possible. Not as easy in this miserable cold wet weather!

Will take a look at the Predict site but don't want to not take the aromatose inhibitor at the moment.

My other worry is osteoporosis. Had DEXA scan before starting radiotherapy and on calcium and Vitamin D tablets daily with another bone scan in a year's time.

10 years is a long time for you to be on the medication. I have another 4 years to go yet.

Thanks for the advice and stay safe

Mary