I am on letrozole and Ibrance. I am fatigued all the time. I have been taking this for 1 yr 8 mths. Does it ever stop? And ... is anyone else like this? I hate that I am so exhausted all the time. My brain wants to do things but my body says nope. Is this in my head from being like this so long or is the meds really the cause? I am taking Ritalin for energy. But doesn't help completely
@A MyBCTeam Member - It's not in your head. So many of the meds cause fatigue. You could try getting your B12 levels tested. I did that and mine came back low so I'm getting B12 shots for that. They say the more active you are the better as it fights the fatigue but sometimes that is easier said than done. I do notice when I've been out running around I do have less fatigue and pain but I can't always do it.
I'm not a gambler, going off Letrozole is a risk, I'm not comfortable taking. But this crap medication was destroying my quality of life. I can't imagine living the next 4 or more years like this past year. At my age, I need to get the most out of life. If I stay on Letrozole, I'll just sleep away these years. It's a real problem.
I have been taking Ibrance and letrozole for 3&1/2 months. I have had low blood cell counts as a whole until recently. Though I am so close to normal I still don't feel it. Infact I was scared that they were falling because of how I was feeling and because of a nosebleed. My nurse said the nosebleed is an Ibrance side effect. While every time I see my doc he always asks if I am still tired. He actually did not want to have me start until I got over the fatigue from radiation. He did not want to bombard me with additional medication that would exasterbate the fatigue I was experiencing. He told me I needed the respite as this new therapy combination would be difficult. Understanding this I believe it will be a long time before the fatigue is gone.
I am glad to hear that you have been on this so long. It's promising. I have had a difficult time with it. My doc has stopped and modified the regiment so much to try to keep me on it. I am now the lowest dose and I only take it now 10 days and off the remainder. This is proving great for cell count recovery. We are still hoping that a constant regiment will improve mets from last Pet/CT showing active bone mets with only one described as chronic. If it doesn't I will be on letrozole alone. The Ibrance doubles survivor rate in studies so I am not thrilled with that. I am looking for trials etc in the event that happens. Of course he has also indicated that if the active mets continue we will go back to chemo. Ick. I had a great win recently I am hoping that there is only one outcome here I continue with the current regiment with my next pet/CT showing stabelizing mets with no new ones.
Hang in there. It's a touph one to continue feeling the way you do for so long.
@amymoffitt- I hear you on that. I was on two of them and miserable. I told my onc I hope to never have to go back on them either. Yet some women have little problem. You could try them and if they are bad make your decision after that. Hugs xxx
This is a horrible thing to do to a woman. It puts us in a most unnatural state. I'd like to know who the genius was that thought the best way to stop a hormone positive cancer, is to cut off it's food supply. Surely there must be other ways to stop a recurrence.
I recently heard that there may be a link between prolonged estrogen deprivation & the onset of Alzheimer's ! This has happened to a woman I know. After her lumpectomy, she ended up having a mastectomy anyway, Now she has Alzheimer's on top of that. If that connection is true, I'd rather take my chances on a recurrence, than on getting Alzheimer's on top of cancer.