Check Dr. Susan Love's breast book.  I thought she had said no to the Estring but yes to the cream in small amounts.  The estring is a constant but the cream you can use a little bit just a few times a week and then reduce it.  I know that with BC my onc gave me the cream to use if I needed it while I was on Tamoxifen.  They do not recommend it if you are on an aromitase inhibitors though.  Have you been tested for BRCA genes?  Do you know if your relatives were all ER positive cancers?  For quality of life I would talk to her about the cream....both my onc and primary had no problem with me using it as long as I was on Tamoxifen for ER+ BC.  I didn't have the dryness on Tam....I had it on the aromitase inhibitors when I couldn't use it...go figure...story of my life   Good luck.....Jo

Tender gave some really good medical input. I do have a question about the study mentioned though, regarding how long the women were followed. Perhaps eventually everyone's absorption level would be very low, but if the study only lasted for 12 weeks or so, maybe higher absorption by those with thinner vaginal tissue continued during that period, but would have tapered to a lower level over time.

Wishful thinking, perhaps. I use Vagifem, which releases an amount of estrogen equivalent to E-String into the vagina in tablet form. It's used twice per week (after an initial two-week push period). I began using Vagifem shortly before I was diagnosed with stage 1 ER+ breast cancer (I was post-menopausal and had stopped taking HRT, but was experiencing terrible vaginal pain during intercourse, atrophy,  and UTIs).

When I was diagnosed, I took Tamoxifen and my oncologist said no problem continuing the Vagifem. I was diagnosed three years later with DCIS in my other breast (so extensive it had almost certainly already been there at the time of my original diagnosis). After that diagnosis, I had a bilateral mastectomy. My oncologist still had no problem with my continuing the Vagifem. My atrophy was so bad and the UTIs were affecting my health beyond intercourse, so I've continued using the Vagifem.

To be honest, before writing this post, it never occurred to me that the Vagifem might have contributed to the growth of the DCIS. I guess the jury is still out on this. If I were you, HomeInIdaho, I would at the least ask to have my blood estrogen levels measured. This will give you an indication of whether in your case the absorption is very low.

Barbara 

I have used Estring for almost 2 years. My gyn, who has a special interest in gyn onc, put me on Estring. It has made the world of difference for me and I would be hard pressed to give it up! My surgical oncologist was concerned at first but after a discussion with my gyn said that she now has a better understanding of Estring. Estring emits the lowest amount of estrogen when compared to other options. Replens and similar products only put a coating of lubrication on surface tissue and do nothing to treat the problem. Along with yearly check-ups I feel comfortable using Estring.

My surgical oncologist who also follows high risk breast cancer patients was leary of my using Esstring that my gyn prescribed. both doctors talked out the issue. Surgical oncologist said that she now has a better understanding of  Estring & agrees that it is safe for me to take. Compared to other estrogen Rx Estring puts out the lowest amount of estrogen.  Estring has made a huge difference for me and I would find it difficult to give it up.

I just found this site today. I am a 56 year old - with a family hx of breast cancer. My aunt (my mom's sister) and my mother. Both were caught early and treated. I had my uterus removed in 2006 and ovaries slowly dwindled out in the last 2-3 years. I first noticed my hormonal, or lack of, symptoms when I was having intercourse. It is so darn painful I just can't bear it. Went to a new OB/GYN who suggested the Estring. I then made an appt with my ARNP a few months later and she was appalled that it was even suggested that I take anything with Estrogen. I am not going to go into all the details as I am sure all of you know and have experienced the same but I need to input from all of you as to what you know and what you experienced etc. I have put the Estring in.....then I get scared and take it out. I'm going in for a mammogram in June and will continue down this path. Please know I value all of your expertise and advise. I look forward to hearing from all of you! Teri

Regarding safety of Estring and other topical estrogens, a study published in Aug 2017 concluded:

"The risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer were not elevated among postmenopausal women using vaginal estrogens, providing reassurance about the safety of treatment."

That conclusion is taken from the study,

Breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and cardiovascular events in participants who used vaginal estrogen in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study,

linked here

https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Citation...,_endometrial_cancer,_and.5.aspx

These results were also published on this site, shown below, among others.

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/vaginal-...

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/884741

Johns Hopkins now routinely prescribes Estrace (another topical estrogen that actually has a slightly higher absorption rate than Estring) to its breast cancer patients.

Hello, I'm new here. I have stage 4 BC which is stable right now and has been for about a year by using letrozole alone. However, needless to say my privates are extremely dry. I called the Onc.'s office and he prescribed the Estring. BUT, I was so dry, I couldn't get it in easily and scratched myself and have tears in the labia which hurt like mad. The Estring never felt right and seemed like it had slipped and so I tried to remove it but couldn't. Ended up going to E R to have it removed. Now, I first need to heal these tears and then decide if I want to have a nurse or doctor put it in or just forget it. So, any answers on what will heal the labia besides keeping it dry as they told me at ER and going "commando" as much as possible. AND, for those of you using it, how much does it it help? What would you do? Obviously estrogen cream is a no no. I wonder though if I could use it on a temporary basis. I talked to Onc's office nurse late Friday to see what to do but she has to talk to Onc. Thanks for any ideas or help you might have.

P.S. my copay on this thing cost $209.00 so you can see I hate to throw it away if it could help.

Faith (in the future).