Connect
← Return to Timing of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) - taking day or night?
Discussion
Timing of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) - taking day or night?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: 18 hours ago | Replies (97)Comment receiving replies
Maybe this has already come up, sorry if so. I’m supposed to start an AI after DCIS diagnosis in 5 months ago. I’m really worried about side effects—already have osteoporosis, and went through menopause years ago. Are there tests to see how much estrogen is actually circulating in your body prior to using an inhibitor? I feel that my estrogen level might already be very low, and trying to suppress it any lower may do more harm than good. It would be nice to have a baseline number, to help evaluate the AI dosage and effects. Maybe I am misunderstanding the whole mechanism of the treatment?
Replies to "Maybe this has already come up, sorry if so. I’m supposed to start an AI after..."
Connect
@orienteer
Women’s endocrine systems naturally produce testosterone which is quickly converted into estrogen. The body makes female hormones even if we have diminished levels of estrogen due to menopause and/or surgical removal of ovaries. Our serum estrogen is likely very low but AIs block testosterone from being converted to estrogen. This starves cancer cells of that converted estrogen.
You’re right that side effects may be related to the AI drugs’ mechanism of action as much as the lack of estrogen. It’s kind of amazing that researchers found that cancer can feed on these very small amounts.
The struggle is real. And the decision we have to make about taking AIs is hard every single day.