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Letrozole and checking estrogen levels
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Aug 8 5:47pm | Replies (93)Comment receiving replies
Hi I’m new here. I’m 71 female with DCIS spot on my left breast. Supposedly my spot is ER+ so my oncologist started me on letrozole. Seems like we are putting out a match with the wind of a tornado. Estradiol level was 19 as post menopausal level would be. I doubt a more stringent test was performed for estradiol level. The stage of my spot is ZERO per biopsy. The spot is so small I suspect the actual biopsy removed the entire spot.
I have an uneasy feeling of this entire protocol. In the beginning I remember the tech doing my mammogram and she actually did not fully place my left breast on the shelf of the machine. It was a sloppy test in my opinion. And of course that is the supposedly side of the my spot of cancer. Im not at a facility recognized by NIH as cancer treatment center. I’m very very Leary of taking letrozole and told my oncologist with my health condition this medicine seems to be counter intuitive for life sustaining care. He said there’s no issue with heart nor chance of blood clot. I’m heading out for second opinion.
Replies to "Hi I’m new here. I’m 71 female with DCIS spot on my left breast. Supposedly my..."
My experience with letrozole was not good. I took it for 3 weeks after radiation in August 2023.
In that 3 weeks the chemicals in the letrozole destroyed the ulnar nerve in both arms. I ended up having bilateral carpel and cubital tunnel surgery. First surgery on right arm 12/23, left arm 1/24. After fully healing until April my oncologist started anastrozole. It caused my pain to return and terrible brain fog so my oncologist took me off for a break until my pain was better.
Just yesterday I started exmestane. I’m really Leary of what this AI will do to my body?
I’m 70 and 11 mos out after radiation. I haven’t been able to take any AI meds regularly since. Hopefully the third AI will work for me. I’m terrified to take it and at the same time terrified not to take it!
I was diagnosed at 69 April of 2023. Her+ stage 1 with lumpectomy and reconstruction. My mammaprint was ultra low. Mammogram 8 mos before diagnosis was negative. I insisted on a mri based on my intuition and thank goodness I didn’t trust the Mammo!
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@mazingrace just fyi, letrozole addresses estradiol produced in the adrenals for those of us who are post-menopausal. I don't know but it seems logical to think that if estradiol was sufficient to feed a tumor, it is sufficient to require meds- depending on stage, genomic factors as interpreted by your doctor.
Are you having an Oncotype DCIS? That would tell you your risk, I believe and might be helpful for decisions. It can sometimes be done with biopsy but better to do it after surgery, I believe. Are you having a lumpectomy? Radiation?
Are you concerned that the mammogram might have missed something? Can you have an MRI? Sorry for all the questions!