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@jenniferhunter

@callalloo Awe thanks, Callalloo. I think you may be referring to my avatar photo with my older horse? He will be very happy to know that you think he is handsome. He is retired now, but he has a younger "brother" who has taken over the job of trail horse for me. They are both Tennessee Walkers and trail riding has been great for building core strength for me.

I'm glad your genetic test indicates a low risk of reocurrence. That must ease your mind a little bit. Is there an immunotherapy that could help in your case? I ask that question because my husband had a stage 2 melanoma on his hand that was completely removed by surgery, and at that time he could have participated in a clinical study that would test using the same immunotherapy that is the standard of care at stage 3, and use it earlier at stage 2. The standard for stage 2 at the time (because it hasn't spread) was no further treatment beyond surgery. We found out that the study determined this should be a new standard of care for a stage 2 melanoma because it was 25% more effective than no treatment. He didn't participate in the study because of the distance and traffic headaches of commuting into a major city every week right at the beginning of the pandemic.

I think it is always good to ask what the options are and if there are other choices that would be effective in your care. You mentioned bone density. That can be a serious issue later in life if you loose too much. My elderly mom has severe osteoporosis and has had a spontaneous spine compression fracture. She is now under the care of an endocrinologist who has knowledge of osteoporosis. Was your concern that a drug that inhibits estrogen may also cause a loss of bone density?
Perhaps an endocrinologist would be a good resource for you.

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Replies to "@callalloo Awe thanks, Callalloo. I think you may be referring to my avatar photo with my..."

Yep, I dontbwant to take aromatase inhibitors because of the associated speedier loss of bone density and frequently elevated cholesterol. (Which I already have despite blood diet and I cannot take statins.)

I go to Cleveland Clinic so have good physician team behind me. And asked about immunotherapy but didn't pursue it as I got the impression from reading studies and protocols that it's primarily for very high risk situations. I thought that it could be something easy like a pill compounded just for me but it's very sophisticated and involves a lot of science and tweaking of the right mix from what I can understand. The side effects of an aromatase inhibitor are less of a concern than creating the right cocktail. Oh, and the immunotherapy that to suppress cancer may leave one immune-supressed in general for a bit. I wouldn't bet serious money on my understanding of it but 'twas what I think that I understood :‐)

The genetic testing was very reassuring. Its not a promise that my risk of recurrence is only 5% but I talked with a lot of people at Oncotype, including a senior scientist when I had more questions, and feel pretty comfortable. In a sense taking an aromatase inhibitor might (I stress might) reduce the recurrence risk by 40%. But the actual percentage point reduction from 5% to 3% is only 2 percentage points.

Currently 100% of the tortoiseshell cars in this house are on the terrace chattering at a bluejay and pretending to be scary. Since there is only one cat in this household, and a bit of a bluffer whom no bluejay takes seriously anyway, that 100% means nothing to the bird. 😏