Natural Treatments in Place of Traditional Hormone Therapy

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PaulaG1
PaulaG1 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

I suffered through 5 years of Tamoxifen- May 2007-2012. It was just awful. For one full year I was medication free, I lost 35 pounds, began running again, climbed 3 mountains and was once again enjoying my life. Then this May (2013) I was put on Arimidex since then put on 7 pounds and my legs have been achy. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in weeks. I just can't go through another 5 years of this misery.

I don't even know how to discuss this with my doctor/nursepractioner as they seem to be convinced that drugs are the only answer.

Is there a natural way to lower estrogen that does not wreak such havoc to the body? Who could I talk to about this? HELP!

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  • Starmusic
    Starmusic Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2013

    Oh I sympathize with you PaulaG! There must be a better way!!!!!

    I don't know the answer. I am searching myself. Tomorrow see the onc doc and I am sure she will recommend a drug! But I will look around for natural ways......and get back to you if I find any.

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited September 2013

    Check the "alternative" thread. Lots of posts about what others have tried.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited September 2013

    Paula, the most popular natural estrogen modulators are I3C, DIM and Grape Seed Extract.  There's good information within these Discussion Threads on them all.

    IMO,if you are not comfortable with the Arimidex recommendation, the best thing to do is to find an integrative oncologist or a naturopathic doctor who is well versed in oncology who will thoroughly test your hormones to determine your individual needs and guide you based on those, rather than the one size fits all approach of most conventional oncs.   (((Hugs))), and good luck!   Deanna

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  • Starmusic
    Starmusic Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2013

    Deanna, what you suggest sounds great. I am new to this, but found what looks like a great resource

    Elynjacobs on Wordpress. Sorry, I do not know how to make a link here. Today I go to talk to the oncologist. will ask about risks and benefits of tamoxifen or whatever she recommends in my case, but really do not want to disturb my body any further than necessary. I don't know where to find a good naturopathic doctor or integrative oncologist in this area. (Maine)Will keep asking.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited September 2013

    Starmusic, I was fortunate to find a really great naturopathic doctor in my area, and she gave me this link for others to find similar docs w/her credentials:  www.oncap.org.  Looks like there are two NDs with this specialization in oncology in ME.  Hopefully, one of them will be close enough to you to check them out.    Deanna

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2013

    Have you ever heard of the preventive breast cancer vaccine? This blog post will explain: http://breastcancerbydrruddy.com/?p=4760

    Today, the Breast Health and Healing Foundation along with the Cleveland Clinic have incredible and wonderful news to report! The next step for the preventive breast cancer vaccine has begun. We have fully funded the breast cancer vaccine for Phase I clinical trials, which will determine the safety of using this preventive method in women. A spin-off company, Shield Biotech, will finish pre-clinical development and seek FDA approval to test the vaccine in human clinical trials. This press release will provide you will all the details. We hope you're just as excited about this news as the rest of us!! http://my.clevelandclinic.org/media_relations/library/2013/2013-09-17-cleveland-clinic-innovations-creates-spin-off-company-to-develop-vaccine-for-preventing-breast-cancer.aspx

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  • PaulaG1
    PaulaG1 Member Posts: 6
    edited September 2013

    Just found out there is a doctor of naturopathy in my area and I am going to make an appointment with to see what alternatives are available. Thanks for the encouragement. I will report on what I find out.

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  • Starmusic
    Starmusic Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2013

    Thank you, Deanna! I will check them out. Best wishes to you all. I would love to hear how it goes. I talked today with oncodoc who said in my case tamoxifen is not necessary, but recommended. So, would live to keep any kind of cancer away naturally!!!

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  • CarolME
    CarolME Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2013

    My name is Carol. Live in Deeefield Bch Fl. Just finished

    Bilateral mastectomy 4/16/13. Revision of mastectomy incisions 5/13/13. Started Anasteozole. Didn't take long to begin feeling very "I'll". Went through expander & recent implant phase 9/19/13.

    implant reconstruction surgery. Stopped the Letrozole 2.5 mg day of my surgery but was to resume on 9/20. I feel like my life ia being slowly drained out of me on these meds. Looking into Holistic Treatment & Trust God.
    Met a young woman who worked in Colorado mixing & creating these meds. She quit, said couldn't continue making poisonous medications. I told her felt lime I was being poisoned. She said "you are"




    I did not resume the Leteozole because I was so sick with symptoms of nausea, body aches & fatigue. Took Arimidex prior to Letrozole. Symptoms same: I'm a nurse who is a rep/outside sales: can hardly make it through each day.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited September 2013

    Interesting, Carol.  I've always thought my body reacted so horribly to Letrozole (Femara) because I'd had to go off HRT cold turkey when I was dx'd, and it seemed logical to me that removing that source of estrogen (the HRT), then trying to curb my natural estrogen (which was almost non-existent at that point) even further was just too much for my body to handle.  I wonder what that former pharmaceutical employee meant by "being poisoned."  I firmly believe that synthetic HRT (the kind I took for so many years) was "poison," but I wonder what's in A/I's that would cause her to equate them with poison.   

    Unfortunately, conventional medicine doesn't allow for individual differences in how some of us react to these meds, nor take into account what else can be done to reduce our risk.  Hopefully, you will find what works for you.    Deanna

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited September 2013

    I've said this before, but it would be nice if these AIs weren't (one size fits all) So if you weigh 100 lbs you get the same dosage as someone who weighs twice that. And if you are 65 you get the same dosage as someone in her 80s.

    I remember when birth control pills came out in the 60s they were discovered to be way too strong. But only after there were serious problems, even deaths.

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