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Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jul 28 9:25am | Replies (1934)Comment receiving replies
I’m ER 100% and PR 60%. I’m upset that women get the same dosage of medicine without blood work being done to 1) determine your baseline Estradiol level and 2) periodically check Estradiol levels after being on an AI. Seriously, isn’t monitoring numbers all about research? My Estradiol level is already the lowest in range at < 5, why should I take a full dose of any AI? Women need to question this theory. We are all different and should be treated like individuals … not treated with standard meds. That’s not fair to anyone.
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This comes up on this forum all the time and I ask every time: if the goal is reducing estradiol below detectable levels (and you may be well above that since testing stops at 5), what difference does dose make? if a 20% dose and a 100% dose both reduce estradiol below detectable levels, and the result is side effects from estrogen deprivation are the same, what difference does it make what dose we take? I actually asking the question. I don't see my oncologist anymore but if I did I would ask it.
ps great to have 100% estrogen score- the meds should work well according to what I have been told!
My oncologist told me I could take Femara alternate days. I never did, but that is one option. They tend not to suggest cutting pills due to inconsistency of dose and not sure if it is extended release. If not extended release, maybe your doc would let you do 1/2.
Some meds are weight-based and the company uses an average weight of, say, 150 (Evenity) and when dose does matter, that is a disservice to us small folks.