Estradiol is rising. Why?

Suefit
Suefit Member Posts: 36
edited April 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I am on Cycle 8 of Ibrance/letrozole and Lupron. My FSH is low as well as Testosterone bot estrogen is rising. Very concerning for estrogen receptive cancer. Anyone have a similar experience

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  • nancyh
    nancyh Member Posts: 2,644
    edited March 2016

    Hey Sue,

    That does seem odd, especially since you're on lupron. Does your onc have any ideas? Maybe they could do an ultrasound or something just to make sure you don't have ovarian cysts or something? Good luck.

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited March 2016

    I recall someone on the Ibrance thread had an issue a while back with higher than normal estrogen levels despite being postmenopausal. She might have had her ovaries removed. The estrogen issue was adrenal-related. I hope others will chime in.

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited March 2016

    Estrogen is stored in fat, and I wondered if you are perhaps losing weight and therefore dumping estrogen and more into your bloodstream, that would show up in your bloodwork. Then I noticed you are Suefit, and your Avatar is you with boxing gloves on! Super cool!

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited March 2016

    Suefit, if you were on Faslodex I would have a theory that since the estrogen receptors can no longer bind estrogen there's more of it in the bloodstream rather than used up by the cancer [to grow].

    Unfortunately letrozole doesn't work that way. It blocks aromatase. The body uses aromatase to MAKE estrogen (from androgens), which is why we want to block it.

    Ibrance stops cells which express Cyclin Dependent Kinases 4 & 6 from dividing. Nothing to do with estrogen so far as I know. Maybe someone else knows more about the science.

    So three paragraphs to contribute that I haven't a clue.

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  • Suefit
    Suefit Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2016

    wow! Pajim. I am impressed with your knowledge. Onc talking about Tomoxifen but I wonder if I should ask about Falsodex. I am also being considered for genom trial. Hate to be off treatment though.

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  • phrogger78
    phrogger78 Member Posts: 115
    edited March 2016

    I am not an expert by any means, but lupron has failed me in the past. I was on lupron specifically to shut down my ovaries to prepare for an IVF cycle. No only did I ovulate right through it (I was supposed to be completely suppressed), I got pregnant while on it, and this was after multiple cycles of being on lupron. I am currently on zoladex and I am getting an oophorectomy because I don't quite trust the meds to fully suppress me.

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  • Suefit
    Suefit Member Posts: 36
    edited March 2016

    I would be fine getting my ovaries out but my Onc says it's not my ovaries doing it. He is blaming anHRT pellet I had inserted 11 months ago before dx.

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited April 2016

    To all....IMO medical oncologists just do not know enough about hormones in general. I feel an endocrinologist should be part of the team. Your posts validate my point!

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  • Goodie16
    Goodie16 Member Posts: 446
    edited April 2016

    Sue, I'm on my 3rd shot of Lupron and my onc still isn't happy with where my estrogen levels are. He's ordered another hormone test for this week to check levels and if they still aren't where he wants, we'll discuss upping the Lupron dose. The levels are going down, but not fast enough. Though, I'm wondering if it's due to the spacing of my shots not being 4 weeks exactly. I've had issues with my insurance each month causing the shots to be delayed by 1-2 weeks, so we haven't achieved a 4 week cycle yet. I have lots to discuss with my onc.

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