Why am I switching between so many hormone therapy medications for breast cancer...

Switching between different hormone therapy medications can feel overwhelming, and it's completely understandable to have questions about what to expect with each new treatment. Many patients in this community have navigated similar medication changes as their care teams work to find the most effective option with manageable side effects. The community here has valuable experience with various hormone therapies and can offer practical insights about timing, food considerations, and what symptoms to watch for - connecting with others who've been on similar treatments often provides helpful guidance during these transitions.

Hi I'm sorry you are on your 4th hormone treatment. How did the Letrozole do for you ? Were there side effects? They want me to start that after my radation for 5yrs. I'm a little concerned 😟 TYIA

I’ve been through Anastrozole & now on Letrozole. I take in the AM with food. It’s very constipating so I take psyllium powder every day. I take a Zyrtec every day to help with the hot flashes. A tip I got on Reddit. I have a lot of pain in my hands and knees. I had a PE after radiation, so I’m on a blood thinner and can’t take Advil for the pain. Trying to make the best of it. Added Kisqali 2 months ago, more testing every month. This is my 3rd IDC ++- and I recently discovered I have a PIK3CA mutation. Good luck ❤️

I'm taking anastrozole as well. Just sweat a lot especially. At night. I've also been more depressed, tired, and irritable. I'm not invasive and wondering if I get total historectomy if still need to take them.

Try the Zyrtec. I was skeptical, but it really helps the hot flashes and night sweats. I sometimes feel like breast cancer is cookie cutter medicine. My 1st bc was IDC, grade 2, no nodes. Did 33 rads, chemo & lumpectomy. I was told that the treatment I received in 2003 is not given today. I would not be given chemo and wasn’t in 2025. I couldn’t tolerate the migraines from Tamoxifen and got a total hysterectomy in 2003.

Both the letrozole and anestrozole left me with night sweats & constipation

The constipation is real 😩 I can’t believe I’m doing this again at 68. Wishing the very best for everyone in this boat ❤️🙏🏻

I was on Letrozole for 3 months and had a lot of side effects related to joints, vaginal dryness, so I was switched to exemestane and am feeling a little better. I take it at night before bed amd have not had any issues with it.

Maybe I’ll look into the exemestane at my next visit

Thank you everyone for what your experiences have been. I appreciate it it very much. I am so concerned with this hormone pill. My radation (only radation ) starts in June I'm a little freaked out about that too 20 of them. Just have to keep going I know. My husband is understanding he just keeps saying " I'll be fine " the main thing is they got it all. He doesn't realize all the follow up medication side effects.

My new oncologist told me to take a break after getting my 4th Herceptin Hylecta shot after they gave me an infusion of the bone drug, Zometa. I was out of commission for nearly a month! I’m also taking Letrozole after trying Anastrozole and hating it. I didn’t go back on anything after the break of a week to 10 days and I’m already feeling much better. I told my doctor I don’t know if I’ll come back. I think it’s like Russian Roulette for women with breast cancer. Nobody really knows. I had a lumpectomy for DCIS and they found it was invasive and also found ER, PR and HER2 positive cancers in my left breast. I then had a mastectomy and I’m still in shock at how fast that cancer train went. But to be clear, I’m 71 now, and if I were a much younger woman, I think I would probably cling on to any hope of keeping the cancer from recurring. I don’t do well on these meds or treatments so I’d rather feel good for whatever time I have left! Being in pain, not being able to do almost anything and looking wizened is just not an option for me! If anyone is in my boat please give me a holler! Thanks, the long-winded Lady!

I tried anastrozole and Letrozole and now on exemestane. I like exemestane the best of the three but take Siberian Rhubarb to decease the severity and frequency of the hot flashes. https://a.co/d/092RP5Sm