Natural Estrogen Reducers?

Options
Joy232
Joy232 Member Posts: 97
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Is anyone trying to reduce estrogen with exercise?  I am wondering how much and how vigorous it has to be to get estrogen reduction and if it ever comes close to reducing it as much as taking the medications like arimidex? 

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited April 2010

    Hi Tweeti,

    From the reading I have done, it's more the other way around.  That is, exercise makes it easier for most patients to tolerate Armidex.  Not there yet, but plan on keeping to my vigorous exercise schedule.  Having said this, I believe that cycling literally saved my life.

    I look at exercise as being one of the three "vital few" lifestyle choices I need to do post active treatment to prevent recurrence.  The others are weight management and aspirin.  Diet is important, but has not been shown to have the same relative importance. (Michelle Holmes)

    Overall, anti-hormonal therapy boosts my odds of being here in 10 years by about 11%.  Not something I would even consider not doing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited April 2010

    A normal amount of exercise (5 days a week of 30-60 minutes walking or cardio plus a couple times a week of strength training) will help (maybe go for the high end if you have any excess fat to lose -- since there's a link between excess body fat and excess estrogen).

    Making sure your melatonin levels are normal will help keep estrogen in check (go to bed by 10 or 11, sleep in complete darkness, not even a clock radio lighting the room). Step out into direct sunlight for a bit each morning. And of course eating cruciferous vegetables every day will help too.

    These natural methods will reduce excess estrogen but will not completely shut it off as medications will do. Personally, I don't WANT my estrogen artificially shut off completely since that brings its own problems.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mathteacher
    mathteacher Member Posts: 243
    edited April 2010

    Claire, where are you getting the documentation that Arimidex will extend your survival chances by 11% at ten years?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited April 2010

    What my oncologist shared with me from the decision software he uses.  He did this because I was significantly underestimating the benefit of Arimidex. 

    Anyway, this gives you the relative survival benefit from surgery, chemo, and then anti-hormonal therapy.  It is specific to my age, general health (excellent), and tumor characteristics (stage, nodes affected, and grade).  You need to remember that I am considered a "high risk patient" and have something like a one in five chance of not being here in 10 years because of BC.  Without anti-hormonal therapy, the risk would be three in ten.  (I personally think it is a lot less because of the lifestyle stuff I am doing as "gap closure" actions.)

    So the benefit to me of anti-hormonal therapy for 5 years is almost equal to that of chemo.  I do get a boost from chemo beyond that as I am participating in the SWOG 0221 study.  Thus, I am getting SIX dose dense of AC and Taxol.

    Great news is that last Taxol is in a couple of hours.  YIPPIE!

    BTW - if I had something like a 5% risk and taking Arimidex would reduce it to 4%, I would be making a different decision.  But being a high risk patient is a very different story.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rreynolds1
    rreynolds1 Member Posts: 450
    edited April 2010

    Hi Claire,

    Why is your recurrence rate so high?  I thought if you were stage 11b, that was still early.  Is it the grade of the tumor and the positive lymph node?  Being an athlete is a real advantage.  I'm using an eliptical 45 mins. a day.  Not easy but I think it is important.  Also, I use progesterone creme to balance the estrogen.  I have read extensively before starting the progesterone and believe it is important to avoid estrogen domenance which many believe is the real issue with ER+ bc.

    Roseann

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited April 2010

    Both rreynolds.  Tumor grade is a major one.  So is ANY lymph node involvement.  The good news is only one lymph node.  Assumption going in was that I was Stage III.  I wasn't.

    Just got back from last Taxol.  So I am done!!!

    They couldn't believe that I would have so few symptoms at the end of all this.  Great news.

    I will do a walk post Benadryl snooze. - Claire

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories