For Informed People Using Alternative Treatments

Brookside, that is pretty much the bottom line: get lean and stay that way. That said, making sure you get a LOT of fibre can also help. Adequate fibre helps eliminate estrogen from your system. I have also seen some things here and there suggesting that healthy intestinal flora may help. 

I have no clue about the progesterone cream thing - that is why I haven't used it yet. To be honest  I am very wary of adding any hormones to my body.  It is just something I was going to look into.  I have little to no body fat.  I am 5'2" and weigh around 118 pounds. I walk 5 days per week, eat a ton of fiber daily, and am a vegetarian.  My blood work for sugar, cholesterol, BMI, calcium, etc... are always in the normal range since my first diagnosis.  Not sure what else I can do but doing something gives me some sense of control over this whole crazy cancer situation. 

I wonder about homones in bee pollen I've taken now for several years.  as some whole sugars have minerals, vitamines etc, I'd think that all estrogens arn't the same either

New2, I had my ovaries out as part of treatment. There is downside, obviously, in terms of cardiovascular health, sexual issues etc. However, after 2 years, I feel pretty much back to my old self and we have no history of heart trouble. 

new2bc - I have never had my hormones checked that I am aware of.  It seems to me modern medicine isn't into checking hormone levels - at least that is my experience as I have asked two doctors and neither think it is necessary.   I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years after my first diagnosis in 2001.  I was also on the medication Zoladex for 2 years which put me into a temporary menopause.  It seems to me there is a direct correlation to when I stopped my "hormonal treatments" of Tamoxifen and Zoladex to when my second BC formed since it has been 7 years since I have taken either and it takes about 6-8 years for a tumor to grow to a palpable size.   I am not a Dr. nor a scientist but this is why I think my hormones are "off".  I have also always had signs of what I would now consider hormonal issues - PMS, bad cramps, bad periods, hormonal migraines, hormonal acne.  I asked my oncologist the first time if they have ever done a study on women's menstrual cycle issues who have had E+ P+ BC and he said no and kind of looked at me funny.  I told him I think it is worth a study IMO.   I just restarted  Tamoxifen in mid Nov (2013) so I don't think that has a correlation to my current ovarian cyst issue but I could be wrong. I really want my hormone levels checked - I am going to ask again. 

hipz,

When I asked my obgyn to check my hormone levels before I take Tamoxifen, he only did the test to show if I am in menopause (FSH). I wanted the test that shows estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, etc. I asked the nurse and she said they do not do these tests. My primary doctor is a woman and more advanced. She ordered the test which is by blood. The drawback to this test is that it does not give all the important info such as the ratio of 2/16, etc and is just a snapshot of your hormone at the time they draw blood. The most accurate one is called 24 hour urine test which my primary doctor does not do. If you have a naturopath doctor, they can order it but it is very expensive and insurance does not pay for it. I have not done this test yet. Life extension does this test and they do not require a doctor's order. But if your doctor does the test by blood, you can get an idea if your bad estrogen is high before spending a lot of money on the urine test. By the way, I had bad periods and acne too. I have never heard of Zoladex. Did you take it with tamoxifen?

new2bc - I wonder why conventional medicine is so anti hormone level checks??    I have had BC impacted by hormones twice - I have also had abnormal cervical cells (many years ago) -- I would think my request to check my hormones would be more than valid!  I do not have a natropath as the only one close to me that I can see if 45-1 hour away from me.   I think I am going to research doing the test on my own via mail or something.   The book I just read said to do the test via saliva versus blood to get the most accurate reading since levels fluctuate.   Not sure if this is true.  At this point I would be happy with any test!  

Yes I took Zoladex and Tamoxifen together (2 years/5 years).  I actually found the Zoladex treatment on my own through European studies I found online.  It had just gotten approved by the FDA for BC the year I started it but is used more widely now.  It was originally used for testicular cancer.  I had an injection in my stomach (a little tablet) every 3 months.   I had hot flashes that would set your house on fire but at the time I did it as an alternative to chemo so I didn't care! hahaha

Hjpz, as far as I know, it is not that anyone is "against" checking hormone levels. It is more that it is very difficult, from what I can gather, to get any kind of accurate reading, especially in pre-meno women.

Certainly ask if that is what it is. I seem to have seen refs to this problem.

Lenn13ka,

Thank you for sharing this info. I recently did the iodine urine test but I have not received the results yet. If I am deficient, my doctor will put me on iodine supplements. What dose of kelp are you using? Did your doctor put on anything else to reduce estrogen? My estradiol level was very high done by blood. I will do the 24 hr urine test in a few months. I am also taking indole 3 carbinol and ground flaxseed.

Thanks the info on the cost of the hormone test . Il that is very useful IMO. I wish I had a naturopath near me. I was just talking to my hubby tonight about trying seaweed and kelp as healthy snacks so now I have another reason to try it!!

hjpz - I'm jumping in here late but I just wanted to respond to one of your earlier posts.  I TOTALLY agree with you regarding excess hormonal imblances present in some women.   I also had many of the symptoms you mentioned - very long heavy periods, horrible PMS, headaches, breast pain, endometriosis and had to live with it for years using OTC medications for the pain/monthly symptoms.  Gyns did not measure hormones and I often wonder about the "small breast cancer risk" in taking OC pills in women who have these hormonal imbalances.  Gyn simply hands out the prescription as if one size pill fits all women's needs. 

Likewise, when I was dx with ER+100%, PR+100% maybe I should not have been as surprised either with prior fibroadenoma hx and moderate dense breasts.  I swear my body was flooded with hormones......  Again, Onc simply wanted to start me on tamoxifen after chemo without testing hormone levels.  IMO it seems only the naturalpaths and nutritionists take any interest in the individual patient's metabolism and will order these tests.  It's just ANOTHER reason for us to be proactive in our healthcare and to be informed, ask questions and use other sources if necessary.  ok - end of rant.

I have to pay for my Nutritionist myself including any labs ordered.

I have Blue Cross / Blue Shield. They offer a 10% discount to my naturopath and they paid for a lot of the blood work he did. They didn't pay for the estrogen level test or the blood work he did to monitor natural killer cells. Maybe it depends on the lab? They were all different.

My  PCP will order any test she can  for me so I can just give the results to my naturopath.

Every so often I feel like calling my insurance company to contest the costs that don't get covered. Standard of care for me was chemo and I didn't do it so I feel that I am saving them  mucho bucks by doing it my way...

Thanks for all the good information ladies!  Makes me feel like I am not alone.