High Estrogen Levels

Goldfinch

At my most recent oncology appointment, he did all the usual blood tests, as well as the tumor marker test and a test of my estradiol levels. My cancer was triple positive, for reference. 

Well, everything came back looking quite normal except for my estradiol levels, which was 1024pg/mL. Everything I've read suggests that it should be below 100, and that 500ish is the maximum most people have (for example, during ovulation).

I talked to the PA who suggested I might be pregnant (I am on Tamoxifen). I told him I was currently on my period, so he ruled out pregnancy, and suggested that I was probably ovulating at the time of the test. Which, perhaps, but that is still crazy high just for someone ovulating.

I'm scared this means that something is wrong! I am 35, on Tamoxifen, and getting fairly regular periods, for the record.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

glennie19

I've had levels as high as 690.   It is a really high level. Have they checked your ovaries?  Suggest transvaginal ultrasound. Maybe you have an ovarian cyst?? 

A high level is usually a sign of pregnancy, but it could be due to other causes too. I had uterine fibroids and my GYN was certain that they were the cause of my high estrogen levels.  I tried to ride it out and wait for menopause, but then I got estrogen positive BC.  Then she really wanted me to have total hyster.   My levels started dropping and we thought I was finally going into menopause (I'm 55, by the way)  but then they shot back up again.  So I finally agreed to a total hystec.   I had that done 10 days ago, and within 4 days, I'm having hot flashes.  *fun*  I'm sure when my level is checked later this month, that it will be down!

If your MO doesn't seem concerned about this, can you talk to your GYN?  It seems like it would be worth following up on the high blood level.  Has it ever been elevated before? 

Goldfinch

I just tried to look through my old labs, but apparently I haven't had my estrogen level checked in the past year, and that's all the website will display. I do feel like it was high on a previous test, though- just not as high. 

I'll call my gyn in the morning to schedule an appointment. Thanks for the feedback- it will help me when I talk to the gynecologist's office.

glennie19

Suggestions:   Get level rechecked,, just in case it was an error.   You never know. 

Ask about other causes for high estrogen levels:  ovarian cyst, uterine fibroids, etc,,,, do you have any of those?  Ask if transvaginal ultrasound would be good idea.

Ask your GYN if he/she is concerned about your high estrogen levels and having estrogen pos cancer.  Mine was. 

I can only give you suggestions based on my own experiences.  Hoping others will chime in too.

Best of luck,, ,please keep me posted.

Nan54

My oncologist said they never test estrogen levels on premenopausal women in tamoxifen because they would always be sky high. The tamoxifen blocks the estrogen from binding to specific cells, so the levels in the blood are high...

glennie19

I didn't know that about tamoxifen.  And I just saw someone posting about that on another thread too, that her level was over 700 but MD was not worried cuz on tamoxifen.

So Goldfinch,, that is defnitely a question to ask your doctors,,, is it the tamoxifen causing the high estrogen levels?