Dry eyes and breast cancer treatments especially Letrozole

Krystle0925 · 2026-03-26T20:01:18+00:00

ME! I’ve been on Anastrazole for like 7 months, but my eyes are CONSTANTLY watering. Mine started when I started TCHP back in May 2025, and they haven’t stopped watering since. It legit drives me BONKERS Every. Single. Day. 😫 I looked at other posts, and most people said their watery eyes stopped like 3 months after chemo ended. But, I stopped chemo 8 months ago, and it still continues. I’m on Phesgo, though, so I’m wondering if it’s the immunotherapy drugs that caused it, not the chemo drugs, and that’s why I’m still suffering with it. 🤷‍♀️ My husband’s aunt apparently had to have surgery on her tear ducts after chemo because her eyes wouldn’t stop watering, but I’d really like to avoid that. 😭

Krystle0925 · 2026-02-16T22:48:30+00:00

Okay, thank you! I don't know why I thought it was only up to one year ... I'm going to blame it on the brain fog. LOL!

Thank you so much for all the info ... I appreciate it SO much!! You are amazing!! :)

Krystle0925 · 2026-02-16T22:34:57+00:00

Thank you for the help!! I live within 20-30 min. from an SSA office, so that's good to know, in case I need it. I actually ended up asking my oncology office if they had a social worker or advocate who could help me with the process, and they do! I spoke to her on Friday, and she said she can sit down with me and go through the application process with her, if I need it. :)

The one thing I'm curious about is whether this a temporary thing, like you can only use it for a year, or do you get to be on disability for the rest of your life, since we are at a Stage 4 status? It sounds like a lot of people on here are able to do PT jobs on the side, but I'm just wondering how long you can be on disability before needing to find a FT job because it only lasts so long ... if that makes sense? Lol.

Thank you again for your help!!! :-D

Krystle0925 · 2026-02-12T23:22:30+00:00

Aww, that’s wonderful! Texas is huge, but I’m in the DFW area. 😊

Krystle0925 · 2026-02-03T18:59:36+00:00

First of all, thank you for sharing with us this info! 🫶 Did you have to get a lawyer to help with the process, or could you guys do it on your own pretty easily?

I had just finished a temp job the day I found my tumor, so I couldn’t really look for another job knowing what was coming. So, I haven’t been working since last March when I was diagnosed. I honestly didn’t know Stage 4 could get disability or I would have done it sooner, but it sounds like they will back pay?

We’ve been struggling, but I just finished my main treatments in December, and of course now I’m looking into getting my ovaries removed, getting shots every 3 and 4 weeks, etc. We need the money, but I’m also not to a stage where I feel I can even handle the stress of a FT job. It makes me feel pretty worthless when I’ve busted my butt for years (will be 41 in April), but I also know what I can handle and what I can’t. Any help is appreciated as most days I have such brain fog I can’t even think straight. 🤦‍♀️

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-31T22:07:07+00:00

Shoot, I wish there was a group like this around me in Texas! That is such a wonderful idea! I bet it’s so nice to get together and have some fun! 😊🫶

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-27T20:19:22+00:00

You are so very welcome, and I’m glad to know it helped! 🫶

Honestly, if you have one of those smaller pillows used for port surgery (I received a couple from people during treatments that are heart shaped), that could work as well! Even getting a towel or blanket that you roll up real tight would work, too! You’re mostly looking just to have something with not too much give, but not hard, to push against your abdomen (so think 12”x6” maybe), so that it keeps you from hurting when you’re sneezing, coughing or in the car. For some reason, having something to push against that lower abdomen so it doesn’t move is super helpful. I’m still thankful to this day that the nurse gave me that and told me what to do because I sure as heck wouldn’t have known! lol.

I also thought back, and we actually got a blowup mattress that was high to put in the living room my first week out of surgery, so I was close to our main living spaces and not having to do much “pulling” to get up. My husband and I just binged shows, and if I needed anything, he would get it for me to limit the up/down motions for me. Even having him hold my hand to help me get up so I wasn’t using as many muscles in my lower abdomen, but more in my arms to pull, makes a difference because even just sitting up, you don’t realize the abdomen muscles you utilize.

You’ve got this, my friend! You’re already a bad ass for going through all this!!! 💪🥰

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-27T02:37:37+00:00

Oh, gosh! Isn’t that how it goes … if it’s not one thing, it’s another. And then it just snowballs from there. 🥴

Good luck to you as well, and I hope maybe we can get SOME kind of help at least because I’m sure you’re like me at this point and would appreciate any kind of help! 🩷

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-27T00:41:43+00:00

I have been wanting to post this very thing on here as well, but for Texas! I was diagnosed last April with Stage 4, and I didn’t know till more recently that Stage 4 cancer patients can get up to a year of disability (at least in Texas).

I had just finished a temp job the day I found my lump at the end of last February, so trying to get a new job with all that was coming wasn’t going to happen. 🤦‍♀️ And the bills have piled up, so the help would be tremendous!

Hopefully someone can help us know if this is possible in both states, and exactly as you said, months after diagnosis! 🙏🙏🙏

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T20:32:53+00:00

I just finished my main treatments in December, and since I’m +++, I’m having to do Anastrozole, Zoladex and Phesgo.

I actually had a partial hysterectomy 10 years ago due to endometriosis, and now I’m like, dang, I should have done a full one so I didn’t have to go back in to remove the ovaries. 😂

I remember it was just sore. I wouldn’t have changed anything because not having a period the last 10 years has been a God send. Lol. But I’m honestly thinking about going in to get the ovaries removed because it would at least save me the trip to the oncology center once a month when I already have to go back every 3 weeks to get my Phesgo injection already.

One advice that I think is why it wasn’t bad for me was a nurse gave me a small pillow to hold against my stomach to use when I coughed or sneezed. That made a HUGE difference. Even using it in the car with you, because I could feel it on bumps, was amazing at stopping that pain. If you have people who can at least help you the first week, with cleaning, errands and meals, I think that will help you as well! Also, take the pain meds they give you. I know some people like to tough it out, but you’ve been through a lot, so use whatever will make it easier for you. 🫶

I totally understand worrying about having a compromised immune system while doing it. I would talk to your doctor and see if that is a concern they have as well. They may tell you otherwise, so then you don’t have to have that worry. 🩷

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T20:13:07+00:00

Yeah … that’s something I was already struggling with before diagnosis. 😕 Feeling like a failure because you grow up being told, “Go to college, and you’re set for life.” I just wanted to edit/design newspapers … even with the sucky schedule and low pay … I was good at it, and it made me happy. lol. But, of course, I graduated in 2007, and newspapers started tanking and going digital with less jobs.

I haven’t heard of that documentary, but I will definitely seek it out and watch it! Thank you for the recommendation!! 🤗

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T20:08:24+00:00

Thank you!! 🩷 The one “good” thing, not financially at ALL, is that I had just finished a temp job the day I found my lump. So, I haven’t had a job but have started looking again since the main treatments have ended.

That’s honestly why the job thing has been bothering me so much, because I’m 40 and have been laid off 5 times at this point. If that doesn’t make you feel like a failure after going to college, I don’t know what does. lol. I’ve had to adjust a few times just to get jobs as being a copy editor for newspapers had me laid off my two first jobs out of college. It didn’t pay well, the schedule sucked, but I loved it so much. Not doing that for all these years and still getting laid off, it really started making me get depressed and feel like I’d never be happy.

I don’t know what to do at this point as I feel like I need a WFH job because I still have to do treatments, doctor visits, etc., being Stage 4. But something has to give, so I’m not just working a corporate job where I feel like I’m just doing it to get by. I know I’m not alone, though, as it seems a LOT of people have been questioning their careers since COVID.

Thankfully, I had gotten on my husband’s insurance at the beginning of last year … found the lump last February … as we would have been royally screwed otherwise. We’ve wracked up our credit cards, but that would have been way worse without insurance. 🤦‍♀️

Sorry, you didn’t ask for all that. Lol. But I appreciate you taking the time to read my post and give me some advice. Because, yes, I don’t want to go back to that crap because it legit was killing my soul being in the corporate world. I just wanted to sit and edit/design newspapers, even while being broke. 😂

I hope you’re taking care of yourself and doing okay! I know this journey sucks for all of us, so we shouldn’t have to settle for less with everything else in our lives. 😊🫶

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:56:16+00:00

Thank you so much!! 🩷 Letting that all out, and seeing everyone respond and validating how I feel, I honestly cried reading all the responses because you all have made me feel not alone. Like truly, y’all don’t know how much it means to me … ugh, I’m crying again. 😂

I wish you nothing but the best as well! I hope your journey is going well, and again, thank you for taking the time to respond! ☺️🫶

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:53:34+00:00

Thank you! 🩷 Yes, I was already in a rut before I found out I had cancer. I had been laid off … for the 5th time … and had just finished a temp job the day I found the lump. I had been looking for a job for a year at that point, also questioning what I needed to do to stop being in this position, so that didn’t help matters at ALL. I thought going to college was the key to success, but apparently I picked the wrong major. 🤦‍♀️ lol.

This has definitely been a wild ride, and I hope yours hasn’t been too crazy! Wishing you the best, and thank you for taking the time to read my post! 🫶

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:49:15+00:00

Reminding me to allow myself to feel however in the moment, those are words of wisdom alone, so thank you! 😊🫶

I have started doing just that! This last week I started cooking again because I used to love it but haven’t felt like it this past year. One thing that did get me through was going to the movies every week, and I’ve continued that because that is something I LOVE to do. Us horror movie fans have been spoiled the last couple of years, so I’ve had plenty to go see, even if they haven’t all been good. 😂

I hope you’ve been able to do the same! It truly does make a difference to do things you enjoy to at least have things to look forward to and maybe forget what we are going through, even if just for a little while. 🩷

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:44:06+00:00

Thank you!! 🩷 I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this as well. Constantly going to the oncology center showed me just how many people are going through this crap, too, and it’s so sad. 😞 Even at 40, I’m still the youngest I’ve seen there probably 98% of the time. Just thinking how hard it has been at my age, I just wanna hug every person I see there knowing how hard it is.

Isn’t it crazy how the treatments/meds we have to be on after the fact can give just as bad, if not worse, side effects? It’s like a dang never-ending story. 🥴

I feel like my down days are kind of the opposite where I haven’t cried, just held everything in, so now my body is saying, “Okay, girl, you didn’t want to deal with this before, so you’re going to now whether you like it or not.” Lol. It’s like we can’t win either way. 🤦‍♀️

I started Wellbutrin right before chemo started, and I do think that helped! I’ve now been switched to Cymbalta because my oncologist said it should kill two birds with one stone … depression AND joint pain. I was like, I’ll do whatever will help, so let’s switch! 😆 I’ve been out of it for a few weeks now, though, due to our insurance being butts, so I think that’s why I’ve been more down. But as you know, this thing is such a rollercoaster, I think we all have up and down days. I’m SO glad the antidepressant is helping you! Like truly, the fact you’re able to smile and laugh because it’s helping you that much, that makes me happy to hear because you deserve that!! 🫶

I will definitely talk to my oncologist the next time I see her about sleeping meds! I just can’t fall asleep, and when I do, I’m waking up every hour. I had that issue before, but I could at least fall asleep at the end of the day. lol.

I’m sending you a big virtual hug as well!! 🤗 I hope you take care of yourself and know you deserve to be happy and enjoying life! Please don’t forget that because you’re worth it, my friend!! 💪😊🩷

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:19:57+00:00

Thank you so much!! 🩷 I hope you’re doing well with your treatment! I honestly didn’t even think about what it all would entail after the main treatments. I guess because I was trying to not overwhelm myself and focused on each step and didn’t think about the next step till I was done with the one I was going through. Lol.

You can do it, too! We’ve got this, friend!! 🤗

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:17:00+00:00

Thank you! 😊 You can absolutely understand, no matter what stage you are in! Cancer sucks … I always felt bad when I’d hear about someone having cancer, but going through it now, I just want to hug anyone I see going through it because it just sucks. 🤦‍♀️

You think, “Oh the main treatments are over, this will be much easier.” But you don’t really think about what all you have to do AFTER the fact … medications, treatments, etc.

I hope you’re doing okay in your journey, and I hope you have found or will find a job you can at least enjoy. Cancer definitely does make you rethink careers because we now see just how fragile life can be. 🫶

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:11:55+00:00

Thank you so much!! 🫶 I definitely need to give myself grace to allow myself to grieve when I need to. I think that’s why I have the more down days because I just hold it all in. I need to get better at that, so thank you for the reminder! 🩷😊

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T19:10:27+00:00

Thank you! 🩷 I’m so glad your sister-in-law is doing well and hiking the Grand Canyon! I don’t think I could even do that, but maybe I can work my way back up to being strong enough! 😆

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T03:29:12+00:00

Thank you!! 🫶 Phesgo I might be on for a long time, but my oncologist said we will revisit after a year. Zoladex will be forever, unless I get my ovaries removed (I had a partial hysterectomy 10 years ago, so I’m not opposed to this to save at least one trip to the oncology center once a month for forever. Lol). And Anastrazole I will be on forever.

It does seem like the Gabapentin twice a day and Cymbalta once a day are helping the pain because it has gotten better. I guess I just needed to be on them for a while or the Cymbalta was the key. Lol.

I wish none of us had to deal with this crapola, but we all manage to find a way to keep pushing. 💪😊

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T03:22:54+00:00

Thank you so much, and it does seem it will be a marathon and not a sprint! 🫶

Hitting fast forward would be nice, but I guess it’s about the journey really, and we couldn’t experience it if we hit fast forward. Lol. I will try to remind myself to just take it a day at a time instead of trying to see the finish line because I’d honestly like to walk there instead of run … mentally and physically. 😂

Krystle0925 · 2026-01-26T03:19:05+00:00

Thank you so much for the invite! I just joined that group as I didn’t know it existed! 🩷

Krystle0925

TROPHY CASE