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Triple positive Breast cancer - letrozole and eostrogen levels
I am a 53 yr old woman, post surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and Herceptin. Now on letrozole and notwithstanding this, oestrogen levels are up and down, over last 12 tests, some under 20 and approx 4 over 750, with last one 1400. Was pre menopausal before cancer and readings and symptoms have overwhelmingly confirmed menopausal.
Interested in causes of this - alcohol? Or other and thoughts on ovary removal. Lead a healthy diet and exercise and not overweight/
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@farr2 are you certain you are through menopause? Has tamoxifen been discussed? Sounds like a difficult situation and I hope you get good advice from your doctor. The fact that they are checking your hormones seems like there is concern about your menopausal status- is that right? I was 63 and noone checked my hormone levels! As you know letrozole only addresses estradiol coming from the adrenals.
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1 ReactionHello @farr2 I was premenopausal at 35 when diagnosed and had an oopherectomy, and still took tamoxifen, then anastrazole. They checked my estrogen levels for a while and they were all over the place as well, but I was definitely menopausal.
As @windyshores said, letrozole is for adrenals, which is the most likely place that the estrogen is coming from if you had an oopherectomy. Like you I had chemo, then radiation. Then I had more chemo to get herceptin in the second round, as it was not yet approved for frontline therapy.
This all started 20+ years ago and I am still in the throws of hot flashes so much that I keep little rechargeable fans everywhere.
Are you having menopausal symptoms?