@sue417

I had to “fight” with my oncologist to test me - refusing to start anastrozole until tested. His response is it’s not clinically indicated. Sadly there isn’t enough research. I’m 77 yo, early stage 1 BC, lumpectomy, 5 day radiation, normal weight for height, already have high BP, osteoporosis and heart disease. I feel better knowing my estrogen is below 15 (in case I decide to stop taking due to bad side effects).

I wish they did a more sensitive estrogen level test so I’d know how much under 15 my level is. There are a few studies about what % drop one can expect when on AI. If my estrogen level is actually 5 then an 80% drop might bring it lower than research says needed. That is, if there were research. One size fits all standard of care seems wrong.

@sue417
It is my understanding that the hormone blockers we take actually block the estrogen receptors in the bone marrow, where dormant breast cancer cells can hide for years. So it would not matter how much estrogen is in our body. So no need to test estrogen levels. It just matters that dorment cancer cells hiding in our bone marrow are blocked from natural estrogen therefore cannot be fed and hopefully die out in 2 to three years. We take the hormone blockers for 5 years to be sure. I'm not sure I'm explaining this correctly. It's complicated. I have been on 3 different blockers. I am taking Tamoxifen now (Even though I'm past menopause). When I first started I would take it for two weeks and then stop for 2 or 3 days. Just needed a little break.. Then start back up. I think my body has finally adjusted. Now I have very little side effects. If we don't get the dormant cancer cells to die out, they will return as cancer somewhere in our body. That becomes an automatic stage 4 cancer. No cure for that, just treatment. So for me, I'm going to eat a little better, workout a bit, take up meditation (meditation helps calm the vagus nerve and can help with hot flashs) and continue to take my blockers. Good luck to all of you and stay strong.
Kristine

@sue417 no one tested me for my hormone levels when they put me on Letrozole. I wanted more information about it so I went to one of the blood testing labs that do whatever testing you want. You have to pay for it. Mine cost about 300. I got the results in one or two days. It was worth it to me since now I have something to go by. I live in Charleston, SC have no one except the cancer Dr. who I think is wonderful. But at the same time I have no one to call , no one to advocate for me. I've been insulted by a PA who worked for the surgeon and have not seen him since the surgery. Anyway we need more people to are helpful and not unkind.