No Ovaries: Hormone therapy necessary?

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Kaneli
Kaneli Member Posts: 100
edited February 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have Pure Tubular BC, 8 mm size. I am advised to get a lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection, 6wk Radiation and Hormone Therapy. Probably AI, for post-menopausal women. My cancer is ER+, but I had a total hysterectomy 18 years ago....I have not been on any hormone replacement for at least 10 years. Is my body still making or getting estrogen? If so, I understand the need to block the estrogen from the cancer...but If I am not getting any estrogen, what is there to block? Thanks for any insight!


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  • MusicLover
    MusicLover Member Posts: 4,225
    edited February 2016

    Yes, even without ovaries your body produces some estrogen in fat cells. I suggest that you ask your doctor if he/she thinks it is absolutely necessary.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited February 2016

    The adrenal glands also produce androstenedione--a precursor to anabolic steroids. Aromatase then converts it to estradiol, a form of estrogen. So even if you have no ovaries and are model-slender, you still need an aromatase inhibitor to avoid making estrogen.

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  • Kaneli
    Kaneli Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2016

    Thank you! That explains it better for me! BTW, I am not model slender, but I wish I were!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2016

    The adrenal gland also produces estrogen. We consume esgrogen in a lot of what we ingest.

    You had a 'complete' hysterectomy 18 yrs ago but your ILC is ER+ so it is feeding off the estrogen in your body. (Even men ha e some estrogen in their body just as we have some progesterone in our bodies.) Hence ER and PR status when it comes to BC TX plans matters.

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