Letrozole and checking estrogen levels

@anjalima I had to Insist to do the estradiol blood test. Mine was <10. I asked my oncologist does it ever go to zero? He couldn’t tell me. 🤷‍♀️🙏🏼

🙏🙏🙏.

Let’s hope!

The lab may not have a measure below 10. Can you ask the lab?

Studies were cited in the Femara insert that said levels were "not detectable" at a dose that was 20% of what we take. But perhaps the "not detectable" is not usually included in lab tests-?

I read the guidelines on the site myself after the oncologist gave me a copy but didn't save account info and password. Web search for NCCN guidelines and go from there. You'll have to create an account to read them. Then search by breast cancer on the mega guidelines page and go from there. There is a DCIS category. Then you have to scroll through those to get to stage 1 (early stage) and the guidelines for several sub-menu items by estrogen sensitivity. When you get to E+, P+, HER2- there are recommendations and the one for women over 70 with this as first-event breast cancer is to not recommend radiation. Or maybe call NCCN and they can direct you to exact link. But you'll still have to register to access it alas. It tool me some time but the stuff is there. Hope this helps.

Hi Dee,
Check out this website. https://www.iscador.com/en/
I started this treatment today while continuing with radiation.
Let's see how it works. This is miraculusly covered by the health insurance, which normally never considers alternative medicine remedies, so I'm assuming it must have passed some standards and proven to work.
Big hugs, Ruth

Ruth,

Hi there! Big hugs to you as well!

Thank you so much for this information. Since I live in the U.S., what is the best way to get mistletoe? I couldn't find any USA suppliers.

Thanks,
Dee

There are a few locations in the U.S. If the above link does not open,-
On the website, Under "Service", Click on "Find clinics and practioners" and look for U.S.

Just wondering about your blood draw. If you did not have the blood test prior to starting AI. How do you know that it's working? I haven't even begun AI and my estrogen tested <18. I've been menopausal for about 10 years. So it's way below <30 menopause parameter.
My point is you could have started with <15 or it could have dropped. It's a guess but I would presume it's working. If it drops further to <12 or <10, then you will know for sure. The annoying thing is the docs never clarify, what level they want it to get to to, considering all the consequences of extremely low estrogen. The imbalance between estrogen and progesterone over time appaently also causes a lot of mood changes, and is hard on the family members as well.

I’m not at all happy that I wasn’t tested before ( although I had requested it). Since We count on this AI to be effective we should be able to measure its effectiveness!

<15 could be the lowest the lab can get to and yes I have asked the oncologist to check in with the hospital lab but she seemed completely unconcerned with the number and did the test because I insisted… wish I had in the beginning ( when my head was swimming).

These meds have been tested in their effectiveness in reducing estradiol levels below a detectable level. Femara did this even at 20% of the normal dose. After menopause, the adrenals continue to produce an amount of hormone that is enough to feed certain cancers, but not over the 15 lab limit, it seems. I don't understand the point of testing levels of hormones in our body before and after. I think it is more relevant to determine how responsive our cancers are to hormones in the first place. Last post- don't want to debate!