Estradiol levels with AI

@prarysky I'm just adding my experience here. I am on Anastrazole after being diagnosed with ILC, ER+, PR+, Her2- in June 2024. Went through surgery, chemo, second surgery to get clear margins and radiation. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis July 2024 and was very busy with breast cancer treatment at the time. When I started Anastrozole, I began lifting weights seriously, walking with a weighted vest daily, jump training, protein forward diet and taking AlgaeCal Plus. I just got another Dexa after 2 years and 4 out of the 5 measurements IMPROVED! And that's only after one year of activities. I still have osteoporosis, but I'm determined to get it down to osteopenia by my next Dexa in 2 years WITHOUT medications. I believe it can be reversed and have been watching YouTube videos with Dr. Doug Lucas who states the same. I'm just as suspicious as you about Reclast and will do everything in my power not to take it. Best wishes to you.

@brightlight66 Your progress is wonderful to hear and hope you continue to improve. I ended up having a Zometa infusion after all....sigh! 2 endocrinologists, 1 rheumatologist and my oncology doctor and PA all recommended either Prolia or Reclast/Zometa. I ruled out the Prolia though in hindsight Prolia and Reclast both seem about the same as far as potential risks.

I think my age (75 at the time of the infusion), my relatively high FRAX score for fracture risk (somewhere around 25%) and the damn letrozole all suggested benefits outweighed risk. I elected Zometa because it was a slightly lower dose than Reclast (4 vs 5), although the Zometa is usually given more frequently than the Reclast annual infusions.

My doctors wanted me to have a second Zometa infusion after 6 months but I said no. Now, my endocrinologist is recommending it is time for that second infusion because my CTX has begun to rise. It was relatively high before the 1st Zometa infusion, then dropped significantly afterwards showing the Zometa did what it was supposed to do. But I am insisting I wait at least one full year.

I also asked my endocrinologist to order another CTX and she said no because there was no point. I may order the CTX on my own, though, because I want to see those numbers. We are also trying to get approved for another Dexa scan to see what has changed.

Meanwhile, I'm adding 15 mg of MK-4/day. Have ruled out MK-7 because of a history of afib. Continue with combinations of strength and cardio, tai chi, & some yoga though not as I used to before breast cancer. There are only so many hours I want to exercise a day, energy and health permitting, and my priority now is strength training. Hesitant to do jump training but if you can do it, it's great for your bones. Trying to up my protein, a challenge going back to the chemo days in fact, but I think I fall short. It's a goal to increase it as much as possible.

Keep up the good work! I think Dr Doug offers some very useful information. Unfortunately, options to follow his advice are more limited with estrogen-positive breast cancer.