Letrozole and checking estrogen levels

Thanks Dee Chase,
I wish you a good and pain free recovery as well. I have been to a naturopath doctor today to find out about "Mistletoe therapy". It's offered here in Switzerland as an alternative medicine treatment in conjunction with radiation/chemo or hormone therapy. It's exactly as you said to boost the immune system in order for your own body to fight the cancer cells. I will be doing that.
Another treatment that is available but in another "holistic clinic" is called fever therapy. They activate a fever on purpose, and raise the body temperature to a level that causes you to sweat and during the high temperature, apparently, the body can fight cancer and other such viral sicknesses. I may or may not give it a try at a later stage. Right now, I would prefer the mistletoe rather than letrozole because my risk is quite low in comparison to the side effects of osteoporosis and Cholesterol, both of which I'm already progressing towards. I don't need to add more medicines, to combat those which again have their own side effects. !
Mistletoe, does not "cure" cancer as such but is only a complementary treatment to combat the effects of radiation/chemo etc. And boost the immune system. I think it is very much used in Europe, and Asia, but I can't say if it's available in America.
Good luck.

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Try reading Radical Remission and Radical Hope both by Kelly Turner..
10/3-7. Dr Turner is presenting a free on line docuseries on Radical remissions. YouTube is also carrying it on HayHouse channel.

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My visit with the oncology NP today has given me a 3-month reprieve from the inhibitor drugs. I have my first post op mammogram in late December (my 69th bd will be Dec 8th). She told me finish out this year on a break, have a good holiday and plan to see my oncologist on Jan 3rd to reevaluate my situation. I said, “will that mean I have to take the next inhibitor drug?”. She said, “you don’t HAVE to take anything - we’ll just present your next option, but ultimately, it’s your call.”
So as things stand today, I will be drug free through the rest of this year. I so look forward to feeling better. Love & prayers to all the brave women on their journey. 💕🙏

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I had a first annual mammogram, ultrasound and oncologist's physical exam last week and no cancer was detected. Or am, at least at the moment, seemingly cancer-free. I did not take aromatase inhibitors (or chemo or radiation) but did have a low 'risk of recurrence' score on the OncotypeDX test.

I have two friends, also over 60, who had stage 1 tumors removed as lumpectomies who also declined to take aromatase inhibitors after receiving low risk scores on the OncotypeDX. One had cancer 5 years ago and the other 3 years ago. Neither has had a recurrence though only time will show if that cancer-free state holds. But that's true for everyone including those who 'do everything possible' to prevent a recurrence.

According to my breast cancer surgeon, older women are increasingly less likely to take the drugs. Especially if genomics testing suggests a low risk of recurrence. Another factor that plays into the decision for older women, in addition to quality of life and possible commorbitity factors, is the thought that cancers tend to progress more slowly in older women so the whole risk/reward analysis is different.

There are few valuable statistics for this demographic as older women have only relatively recently being routinely screened and early breast cancers identified. So it's an area for breast cancer research to explore and, maybe, new guidelines will be proposed for older women. The NCCN modified its radiation recommendations for certain early stage cancers in women over 70 and likely other 'standard recommendations' are being reviewed.

Jump to this post

I had a first annual mammogram, ultrasound and oncologist's physical exam last week and no cancer was detected. Or am, at least at the moment, seemingly cancer-free. I did not take aromatase inhibitors (or chemo or radiation) but did have a low 'risk of recurrence' score on the OncotypeDX test.

I have two friends, also over 60, who had stage 1 tumors removed as lumpectomies who also declined to take aromatase inhibitors after receiving low risk scores on the OncotypeDX. One had cancer 5 years ago and the other 3 years ago. Neither has had a recurrence though only time will show if that cancer-free state holds. But that's true for everyone including those who 'do everything possible' to prevent a recurrence.

According to my breast cancer surgeon, older women are increasingly less likely to take the drugs. Especially if genomics testing suggests a low risk of recurrence. Another factor that plays into the decision for older women, in addition to quality of life and possible commorbitity factors, is the thought that cancers tend to progress more slowly in older women so the whole risk/reward analysis is different.

There are few valuable statistics for this demographic as older women have only relatively recently being routinely screened and early breast cancers identified. So it's an area for breast cancer research to explore and, maybe, new guidelines will be proposed for older women. The NCCN modified its radiation recommendations for certain early stage cancers in women over 70 and likely other 'standard recommendations' are being reviewed.

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I would also love to see any data, articles or testimonies on inhibitors for women over 70 years. I too am newly diagnosed IDC and meeting my Oncologist for the first time after my surgery. Sending hugs all along the way and praying blessings for this group. Thank you, Elliej

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I would love to read about revised radiation recommendation for certain early cancers in women over 70. I could not locate that information on NCCN website. Might you direct me to that area? Thank you. 🌸

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The oncologist printed it from the NCCN website and gave it to me. I find the NCCN hard to use but will try to find the exact page if I get a chance. The NCCN is continually revising the protocols for cancer treatment in an effort to not over-treat or expose patients to other risks unnecessarily.

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