Estradiol levels with AI

Yes, you are right, an important distinction but still good news for DCIS etc women on this site.
Also, ever the optimist myself, I like to think this may ultimately be good news for the rest of us as well...some who don't tolerate AIs may have another option without the current adverse tamox effects at some point in the future, if studies on invasive types reveal similar results of lower doses just as effective.

I think there is an overall trend in less is more. We saw this with the ONCOTYPE DX … saving 70% of Women with BC from a former protocol of chemotherapy … now individuated . Trials now are looking at benefits of radiation and amounts of radiation. And here we see trials on lessening meds. All GOOD FOR US!

Would love more research in IDC and AI’s although I have very very mild side effects I worry about unseen effects like bone loss.

BRAVA RESEARCH PROFESSIONALS

Quisiera saber si alguien sabe algo del fulvestrant, ya que fue el que me indicaron después de estar tomando el letrozol, gracias

@cynthia09, here are 2 discussions where members are talking afulvestrant:
- Ibrance and Fulvestrant for Stage 4 MBC, Lung Fills w Fluid https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ibrance-and-fulvestrant-for-stage-4-mbc/
- Abemaciclib (Verzenio) and fulvestrant (Falsodex) Treatment https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/abemaciclib-and-falsodex-treatment/

I am on Letrozole, it will be a year at the end of March. I have had my estradiol checked numerous times. My last one was 16 but has been as high as 33 and as low as .68. Who knows what it should be?

I've been on letrozole since mid-July, and my August 2025 DEXA scan shows I'm on the cusp of an official osteoporosis diagnosis. My oncology doc and PA are recommending I have a Reclast infusion. A serious GERD history rules out oral meds. Their recommendation was not unexpected regardless of the most recent DEXA. They had told me before beginning my treatment that they'd be recommending some sort of drug treatment for bone loss because of the AI.

Prior to my invasive breast cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2024 and afib diagnosis August 2023, I did yoga, some resistance or weight bearing exercise and took bone supportive supplements (MK4, nattokinase, and strontium citrate intermittently). Once I needed to take blood thinners for the afib, I had to stop all the bone supportive supplements because they were also natural blood thinners.

So here I am. Someone, like many readers here, who has done everything possible to stay off of heavy prescription drugs for osteoporosis, now about to take some of those powerful drugs. In my case, it would be Reclast. I actually dread the osteoporosis drugs more than the chemo drugs which were time limited.

I asked my PA about testing my estrogen hormones (e.g., estradiol, estrone, & estriol) PRIOR to starting Reclast and in the early stages of taking letrozole. She said she would not order these tests because she felt they were not useful for women 10 years past menopause (moi!) In addition, she thought such tests provided an inaccurate, snapshot view of hormone status because the hormones fluctuate.

Does her view seem accurate? I don't want to pursue unnecessary testing but part of me keeps wanting measurements of some kind since these are such powerful drugs with major side effects.