letrozole side effects

My mother who was treated for stage IIIC breast cancer is now taking Femara 2.5 mg daily along with calcium. She has noticed excessive facial hair recently. Could this be a side effect of Femara or is it normal during menopause? Is it permanent or are there any treatments available? Should Femara always be taken after a course of tamoxifen or is it also prescribed as a first line hormonal treatment for advanced breast cancer?

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear whizmedico:  Excessive facial hair is not a direct side effect of femara. However, femara reduces the amount of estrogen and some women experience increased facial hair along with menopause.  This may or may not resolve when she completes her treatment.  Both tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (femara) are used in hormone positive breast cancer.  Femara is a relatively new drug and many women who were on tamoxifen have been given an aromatase inhibitor afterward because studies have shown additional benefit in reducing recurrence.  Femara (and other aromatase inhibitors) can only be given to post-menopausal women and currently may be prescribed first line in this population.

[shielah]

A related discussion, Weight Gain with Femara. was started.