Estrogen levels tested?

Ovaries are not the only source of estrogen. Other "things" in our body combine to form estrogen.  Femara, Arimidex, & Aromasin are amortase inhibitors. AI work to prevent our bodies from creating estrogen while drugs like Tamoxifen attempt to prevent our body from using estrogen.

Go to the top of the page to Treatments and Side Effects. Then click on Hormonal Therapy to read about HRT.

I'm not sure what tests you are referring to.  Some doctors do tumor marker tests but other doctors state those tests are unreliable.  In 2 yers of treatment I have never had any tests to find my estrogen level.

This whole estrogen thing is very strange to me.  I know it's complicated, but I too have a lot of questions that the oncologist I'm seeing right now can't take the time to explain to me.  I got the bright idea when I was going off tamoxifen, which I tolerated OK I guess, to test my estrogen levels, while on tamoxifen, and while on Arimidex.  I know tamoxifen doesn't reduce your estrogen levels, it just prevents it from binding to cells (I think!).  Then I found Arimidex untolerable, so I went on my naturopath's protocol of healthy eating, Indole 3 Carbinole, a few other things...and I had another test.  Then I went on a trip for a month with a friend and behaved badly:  bad sleep, staying up all night, immoderate drinking, dancing,  in general, behaved like a teenager when the parents leave town.  For a month.  Came home, had another estrogen test.  All these tests were done reluctantly by my oncologist.  When I finally went in for my next six month appt. with the oncologist, guess what?  THEY WERE ALL THE SAME.  And they were all low.  

When I asked her to explain, she said she didn't have time to explain the mechanism and role of estrogen in breast cancer.  Okay.  So six months later, when she was pushing me to take arimidex again, I asked her to explain this no change thing again.  She told me that the tests are not reliable because, and here, imagine someone making a fist then flashing their fingers out then making a fist again, over and over again, she said, estrogen levels change from moment to moment.  Well, maybe during the period of a month, maybe when your pre-menopausal.  But I wasn't quick enough to ask her at that point, but yes, what about POST-menopausal?  My tests show that I was consistently low.  On any protocal.  It's VERY confusing.  I would take the freakin' meds if I thought it made a difference, but for me, it doesn't.  Why feel like a 80 yr. old with arthritis when I am 52 and have a physical job I love.  Having cancer took a lot away from me...I'm not sure I want to spend the rest of my life hobbled up, for a theory! What OTHER thousands of things can contribute to the growth of tumours?  Frankly, they don't know.  Why do they never talk about the role of progesterin?  I find it all bizarre.  I hope someone can come along and explain!  To that end, I'm looking for a new oncologist in the hopes of better understanding.

Til then, I remain meds free...and feeling a bit like I have a life, while I'm living... 

Hi All,

I asked my oncologist about testing my estrogen levels and she said they don't do that.  ???? How do they know the Arimidex is doing the job?  So I read, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer" and decided to take the matter into my own hands.  It seems that it is the domance of estrogen which is the problem so I started using progesterone creme.  I feel sooo much better.  Please don't do this without doing your homework.  I spent several months researching the issue before making my decision.  Good luck.

Roseann

I was told that after menopause , fat , breast tissue and skin still make estrogen . The recommendation is to stop alcohol ( promotes estrogen) , and get body fat down to 24 % or below.

I have been seeing an oncology dietician and have my body fat down from 40% to 33 but still have 15 pounds to go to hopefully get to 24 %.

also avoid red meat ( estorgenn+ receptors??), exercise 3 hours a week ( decreases estrogen not sure how !)

avoid cosmetics with parabens (cheap nail polish ,some moisturizers.)

there is a lecture on this from dr. Tilobarsky on the komen.org site. 

I also switched to non-fat dairy. Stonyfield non-fat yogurt and Natural by Nature grass fed skim milk are both yummy ! :-) ( I guess animals store estrogen in the fat so you need to avoid the animal fat.)

Also get your vitamin  D checked and get it up to 60 with supplements if necessary. (mine was only 17 !!) (significant data that low Vitamin D levels promote cancer)

Also suggested to me to take a baby aspirin a day as there is some research that it prevents recurrence.

I have done all the above but haven't taken the anti-estorgen medicine as I can't bear the thought of it ! 

I recently had a 24 hour urine estrogen test performed and also a saliva test, since my onc doesn't believe that AI's won't work on some people. I have not yet taken Arimidex and I wanted a baseline before I take it (if I take it, which is doubtful). Interestingly, my DIM and Grape Seed extract and diet appear to be working as my estrone and estradiol are undetectable. I am working with Dr Joe Veltmann to monitor the levels and also to ensure that based on my genetic profile, I am taking the proper supplements as well as eating the proper foods to maximize estriol metabolization (is that even a word?) and to keep the bad estrogen metabolites down.

I feel really good about testing for estrogen via the 24 Hr and saliva also. From what I read, blood is not very accurate.

sue50.. good for you... for ALL of you... for working so hard to advocate for yourselves. I don't understand why it is so difficult to get good answers on this. WE have to be the ones to think things through and then INSIST that our providers do what's right. Something is REALLY backwards about all of this. But there are answers out there for those who are willing to dig for them.

BB maybe it's because estrogen is in the tissues as well as the blood. Breast tissue makes estrogen, and it's mostly fat? I got the runaround too. I was told Letrozole is a strong drug. No s^^t