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Why can you not take Letrozole before the menopause

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Liz1959
Liz1959

I should not take Tmoxifen as my sister had blood clots from the age of 35, i am 54 this year and have treatment for early stage breast cancer

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Tarun
    Tarun

    Posted

    Letrozole works to reduce the production of oestrogen in areas of the body such as breast tissue. Before the menopause most oestrogen is produced in the ovaries rather than in these tissues, so letrozole is ineffective pre-menopause.

    Tarun (hospital pharmacist)

  • Poemsgalore
    Poemsgalore

    Posted

    Is your oncologist aware of your problem with blood clots? I have known of pre-menopausal women being put on to either Letrozole or Anastrazole after taking Tamoxifen for two years. I am 62 and was put on Anastrazole after chemotherapy.
  • poemsgalore55
    poemsgalore55 Liz1959

    Posted

    Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors stop the production of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Aromatase inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme aromatase, which turns the hormone androgen into small amounts of estrogen in the body. This means that less estrogen is available to stimulate the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Aromatase inhibitors can't stop the ovaries from making estrogen, so aromatase inhibitors only work in postmenopausal women.

    Tamoxifen on the other hand, prevents the ovaries from producing Oestrogen, which means it is the drug usually given to pre-menopausal women. Ask you oncologist what percentage hormone positive your tumour was. Mine was 100% Oestrogen and 70% Progesterone, but as I am 63, I am taking Anastrazole (another aromatase inhibitor). If yours was only minimally hormone positive, you might not need to take a hormone tablet.

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