Cancer Pills - For How Long Should Oh Be Taking Them?

[Arrods]

OH had a lumpectomy and some lymph nodes removed 8 years ago. Had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, because of the cancer type, a year's Herceptin. All tests since fine.

Initially told 5 years on Letrozole, but has kept on the drug despite the bad night sweats and sleep deprivation. One never knows if the HRT she was on was a factor in contracting the cancer.

So, does she decide to come off the drug in the hope of the side-effects easing/disappearing? Of course, she'll be seeking advice from the doctors but it would be good to hear others' experience.

[Sqad]

I cannot give personal experience BUT 5 years of Letrozole is the recommended time.
however IF you have already had tamoxifen, then you should take the Letrozole for 5 years after finishing the course of Tamoxifen.

[237SJ]

When my Mum was on anastrozle (same type of drug - aromatase inhibitor) she was told that there is evidence that staying on it for good can prevent cancer occurring in the future so they tend to keep people on it beyond 5 years. Maybe your wife could ask about trying a different brand of AI

[Arrods]

Thanks Sqad, but OH went straight on to Letrozole without Tamoxifen. After 5 years, advice at the time was to stay on for 8 years.

She has been a 'star' in coping with the side-effects but it would be good to know the risks of stopping the pills. Will see what they now say.

[Arrods]

Thanks 237SJ. Coincidentally, a friend also suffering was told of an equivalent drug without the side-effects (forget the name right now). Our pharmacy has been trying to get hold of supplies but without success so far.

[237SJ]

It's worth a try. Thing is, the drug stops the body's uptake of oestrogen so the sleep problem and night sweats are probably the result of lack of oestrogen. If your wife was on HRT and then deprived of oestrogen by the drug then she has been plunged straight into menopause symptoms.

[237SJ]

Was the equivalent drug Arimidex? (anastrozle)

[Arrods]

Thanks - will check later when she gets back home. She was already post-menopausal when she was diagnosed which is why, I believe, she was able to have the Herceptin treatment.

There are other drugs said to counter the side-effects (mainly anti-depressants) but sadly they didn't work. Thanks again.

[NoMercy]

Hi Arrods. Herceptin is given for HER2 positive cancer.

If she is on Letrozole (aromatase inhibitor) she was oestrogen / progesterone-receptor positive too. For high risk disease with nodal involvement, emerging research actually favours adjuvant endocrine therapy for up to 10 years and that may even become 15 years in time.

For low-risk disease with no nodal involvement, it's usually 5 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy.

[NoMercy]

Ps. Clonidine or Norethisterone may help for hot flushes.

[Arrods]

Hi Nom. Good to hear you on another thread!

You're right, that was OH's cancer type. Clonidine (and Venlafaxine) didn't work - but interested to see the other suggestion. Will mention when she gets home.