any of you ladies taking estrace?

sleeze

I had two stage one bi-lateral breast cancers, er Positive.
Am I the only lady who has a bad VJ. Just don't know how else to put it. I was taking vagifem but not helping
on the external part. New gyn gave me estrace 2
grams once a week, I feel nervous about it. I wanted
to talk to other ladies who are using any hormones.
I can't believe I am the only one. Actually they
say vagifem is okay for us to use.

Anonymous

Check out the "MOJO" thread near the top of the list here. It's waaaaaay long but has many ideas and answers to your question. You definitely aren't alone!

Marin

Member_of_the_Club

I would be very cautious about the estrace. I was on it for an unrelated skin condition for a year before being diagnosed with bc, and I've always thought it contributed to my cancer. i thought it was telling that when i was diagnosed my doctor told me to immediately go off the estrace.

The estrogen ring releases far less estrogen than the cream so you might consider that. Have you talked to your oncologist about this? You should check with him or her.

sleeze

I have. I use the vagifem but need something for
the external vulva and the docor gave me estrace.
Vagifem is okay for us to use, little absorption,
you to have to be careful. I was just wondering
what others expericences might be.

Member_of_the_Club

I have all sorts of issues down there and see a vulva specialist (yes, there is such a thing!). In any event, it all started with an auto-immune skin disorder of the vulva called lichen sclerosus. It is frequently underdiagnosed and you may want to look into whether you have it because it is highly treatable with powerful steroid creams, mine is completely under control. And you wouldn't need the estrace. Lichen sclerisus causes a thinning of the skin, a whiteness, irritation, painful intercourse, itching, but probably not all of these symptoms. What makes me concerned that you might have it is that you are experiencing issues primarily with the vulva.

Untreated (which happens in an alarming number of cases) it can lead to what my vuvla doctor euphemistically referred to as "loss of architecture," meaning your labia can actually deteriorate. Also, untreated it can lead to vulvar cancer, which you certainly don't need. So if it is a possibility, ask for a biopsy of your vuvla (only way to diagnose lichen sclerosus).

Lauri_S

After I finished A/C and Taxol I found my vagina had either atrophied (from lack of use) or the hormonal changes had caused it to shrink. Any type of penetration was painful! We tried the over the counter creams and gels - they did nothing.

I tried the estrogen ring. Had it in for over 2 months - didn't help.

I finally got my Onc to agree to letting me try the estrace. I used it in very small amounts. I used it daily for the first 2 months, then went to every other day. I weaned myself off of it within about 6 - 7 months.

It came down to a quality of life issue for me. Yes, my cancer was strongly ER+ and yes, I understood the risks of using the product.

But I wasn't about to give up my sex life.

I had a similar problem with Lexapro. I was taking it for hot flashes but found it prevented me from being able to have an orgasm. So we've switched to Effexor to see if that works.