Looking for supplement information so I can get off Aromasin.

Have you tried any of the otehr AIs? Not all of them affect you the same.

I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but I thought I'd throw it out there, anyway.

Hi seniorbreastcancer, if you search DIM here on BCO, you will find that many sisters are taking this supplement instead of, and sometimes along with their antihormonal.  I am planning on discontinuing Tamoxifen for severe SEs.  Hope this helps, blessings

Hi BinVa, do you mind sharing your stats so I can find some kinda comfort in my decision to stop Tamox....thanks !

srbreastcancersurvivor, I believe the first thing you should do is have your estrogen levels checked, preferably with a 24-hour urine test (which is more accurate than a blood test).  That will tell you how much estrogen you really have to worry about, which in women 60+ often isn't very much.  

I've been using I3C in lieu of Femara, which I absolutely couldn't tolerate, and the more I read, the more convinced I am that A/Is are overkill for some women whose estrogen is already extremely low due to age or other factors.  In fact, there was a recent study to that effect, which I'll try to find and post here.  

Feel free to PM me if you want more specific info'.  Since you're in CA, finding a top notch naturopathic doctor, if you don't already have one, shouldn't be hard, and that's the kind of doctor who will take the time to investigate all your hormone levels to help you decide what you really need, and what you want to do if you need help modulating estrogen.   That's who I ended up going to for a concern about osteopenia, and she's been a huge help to me with the whole estrogen, A/I dilemna.     Deanna

dlb...the doc I saw Friday mentioned I3C, but said she finds DIM to be preferable...think she said that I3C converts to DIM...but I could have the reason confused!!!  She is having me do a 24 hour urine....need to check with the lab to see if they take my insurance as then the cost is only 159, otherwise its 1000....

Here's the study I was thinking of when I posted earlier:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2011/08/31/some-older-breast-cancer-patients-can-skip-hormone-therapy-study

Karen, I've tried DIM, but I3C just feels right for my body.  Grape Seed Extract is another natural estrogen modulator that some women use, either alone or in combination with DIM, I3C, or an A/I.

My naturopathic doctor uses Genova Labs for the 24-hr urine test, and the cost with insurance is exactly what you quoted -- well worth it to me to know what's going on in my body.  I hope your insurance will cover it. 

Kaara, here's some info on I3C:  http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/indole-3-carbinol   Deanna

Thanks Deanna!  I'll check it out.

dlb, thanks for the links - I just love this:

Switching Early Breast Cancer Patients To Exemestane Improves Long-Term Survival, Study Finds (Sep. 23, 2009)

Two years later, ooopppsss !

Toxicity of Aromatase Inhibitors May Explain Lack of Overall Survival Improvement

And we, whose lives are on the line, are supposed to give credence to these studies and take them at face value ? 

Maud, I need more than a headline. Can you give a link to the study about the AI toxicity, so I can see how it was done? Was it that side effects made people stop early, and THAT'S why there's a lack of overall survival improvement??

Interesting that you bring up the issue of giving credence to studies, Maud.  Here's something I read yesterday on that exact subject:

http://www.jonbarron.org/natural-health/unproven-conventional-medicine-newsletter

By the way, if you're not familiar with Jon Barron, IMO his newsletter is one of the best out there when it comes to a well-researched, analytical approach to alternatives and various health issues.   Deanna

This maybe isn't alternative exactly, but after a long talk with my Dr , he said that Fosomax IV has been shown to be a good preventative instead of AL's although not approved for that yet. He is investigating with my insurance other wise it is about $6,000 a year - one IV every 6 mos.  Anybody read anything on that? Not much on the internet.