Does anyone with ER+/PR+ tumors see an Endocrinologist?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited January 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
Does anyone with ER+/PR+ tumors see an Endocrinologist?
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  • sportsee
    sportsee Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2017

    Just curious if anyone else sees an Endocrinologist (or any other specialist dealing specifically with hormones) as part of the treatment team for hormone receptive breast tumors? So far I'm working with a Breast Surgeon and Oncologist (meeting this Friday) - assuming the Oncologist will order some sort of test to ensure everything is balancing as it should... or is that the job of another specialist?

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  • Goodie16
    Goodie16 Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2017

    My onc is able to monitor my hormone levels during my treatment, so I have not seen an endocrinologist. I wouldn't hesitate to ask for a referral to one, if I thought something in my blood work warranted it.

    Good luck to you!

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  • sportsee
    sportsee Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2017

    Thanks Goodie!

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  • jojo9999
    jojo9999 Member Posts: 202
    edited January 2017

    I saw one, but he is not part of my regular team. My BS thought I would enjoy talking with him as he has lots of breast cancer experience. He put me at ease and said that tamox was probably working well for me. I do think that an endocrinologist should be a regular part of the team for ER+ PR+ cases. However, my gyn is a big tester - had lots of hormone level checks, and TVUS to monitor due to tamox.

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  • sportsee
    sportsee Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2017

    Thanks Jojo- appreciate the perspective

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited January 2017

    Hi all. I've been saying for a long time that an endocrinologist should be par of the team in hormone positive BC. Most MOs know very little about female hormones. They treat blindly without testing our hormone levels. So my answer is yes, yes, yes!

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  • sportsee
    sportsee Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2017

    Thanks dtad - I think I'm going to seek an endocrinologist out - at least for a consultation - just to see if they have any additional insights into hormone-related therapies and testing that a typical oncologist might overlook.

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  • DiabeticCancerChick
    DiabeticCancerChick Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2017

    Hmmm. Well, I see an endocrinologist for diabetes, and my thyroid hormones are regularly tested, but not estrogen. My endo knows I'm on letrozole, and I get regular bone scans to monitor my osteopenia. I really never thought of monitoring estrogen. Well, I've got an appointment coming up with a new endocrinologist who is replacing my recently retired one, so I'll ask about monitoring other hormones. I did wonder why there is a standard dose of letrozole for everyone, when individuals vary widely in just about every way. Interesting topic!

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