Estrogen for postmenopausal women
Common Questions and Answers about Estrogen for postmenopausal women
cenestin
A recent study confirmed the long-term superior efficacy and safety of anastrozole (Arimidex) over tamoxifen as initial adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer.
It is apparently considered likely that this would hold true for the other AIs, such as Aromasin, but if you wish, you could ask your doctor about the possibility of trying Arimidex in place of Aromasin.
Best wishes...
Tamoxifen is a hormone therapy that blocks estrogen to breast tissue. It is the hormone that is recommended for women with ER/PR positive breast cancer who are premenopausal or postmenopausal. Arimidex (or other aromatase inhibitors) is another class of hormone therapy that also blocks estrogen to breast tissue but these drugs are only offered to women who are postmenopausal. Both tamoxifen and armidex only address the ER/PR status and do not have any impact on CerbB2.
I am postmenopausal for 4 years and 52 years old and have never taken HRT. I was having increasing breast tenderness for about a month and then a heavy period-like occurance with immediate relief of the breast pain. I went to my gyn about this and he said that because of the breast pain, the post menopausal bleeding sounded hormonal which would likely mean the ovaries are involved, even though he said he didn't feel any ovarian thing during my exam.
Hi there, I am really sorry to hear about your test results. I still remember the sinking feeling when I got mine. After reading both posts I want to make sure you are getting follow up with a gynecolgic oncologist. It can make the world of difference for you. Here is a link to help you find one in your area and also has a link to read why a gyn/onc is important:
http://www.wcn.org/interior.cfm?
Estring, for example, releases over 90 days an amount equivalent to taking oral estrogen for just 2 days, and Vagifem, aready a very low dose estrogen product, is now available in a 10 mcg dose, as well as the original 20 mcg dose. (Both of these are reported to be preferrable to a similar third product, Estrace.) These products also appear to have a very, very low level of systemic absorption.
In cancer that is Estrogen Receptor positive, there are several ways to block the estrogen. In premenopausal women, tamoxifen is a commonly used drug. In postmenopausal women, aromatase inhibitors are generally preferred. A premenopausal women could be rendered postmenopausal in two ways: 1. Drugs that will stop ovarian function and 2. Removal of ovaries. There are pros and cons of either choice and often this boils down to personal preference.
How is your estrogen and your DHEA-S? When your doc tests your testosterone, does he test bio-available testosterone, and does the doc test sex binding hormones, LH, FSH, to get the entire pic of your androgens and how your body is using the testosterone?
Estrogen and testosterone and very very closely related - so it could be that your testosterone is simply converting over to estrogen instead of staying as testosterone. This cannot be controlled really - it just happens.
I totally agree with everything Maggie367 has said in her post above. A LOT of women have postmenopausal bleeding and it turns out to be nothing but, it warrants a check up with your doc to just be on the safe side.
A lot of women also continue having "phantom period" symptoms, getting all of the PMS symptoms but, no periods. It's quite common actually.
Do make an appointment with your doc.
After a systematic review of medical research on the subject, experts reported that adding an aromatase inhibitor -- a drug that reduces the amount of estrogen produced in the body -- has clearly been shown to reduce the number of tumor recurrences in postmenopausal women compared with the standard drug tamoxifen, which works by blocking the action of estrogen on cancer tumors that are estrogen-receptor positive.
Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator, meaning that it targets estrogen in the breast independent of ovarian production of estrogen. However, if you have had your ovaries removed, then you would be postmenopausal and could possibly take an aromatase inhibitor instead of tamoxifen. Either way, if your breast cancer is hormone receptor positive, then hormone therapy would likely be recommended as the body does produce estrogen outside of the ovaries.
Some studies suggest that these lumps may be dependent upon estrogen, because they are common in premenopausal women,pregnant women and postmenopausal women taking estrogen.
Limiting beverages or foods that contain caffeine,including coffee and chocolate can help shrink the lump and reduce the pain.
Also evening primrose oil and vitamins E and C supplement, application of warm compresses to the breast and massaging with Castor oil could be very beneficial.
I'm a 59 y/o postmenopausal female that was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis with a T score of -3.2. Was sent to an endocrine doc and did several blood tests as well. The doc wanted to start me on hormone therapy and injections based on my bone density test. I was prescribed the estrogen Duavee 20 mg daily and Prolia 60 mg shots every 6 months. Has anyone had experience with Duavee or Prolia?
My period has been thinning for months. I did a hormonal imbalance test and it turns out my estrogen level is at 203. The doctor told me to eat healthy, no carbs and no sugar. They also say irregular period is due to stress. I did my research stress leads to high estrogen. So I am guessing that is what causing it to be high. But I also read eating foods with lots of vitamins (ex. Selenium. Melatonin, vitamin b, magnesium, etc.) helps reduce it.
Are you on birth control and have you had your estrogen level taken? You are not truely menopausal until you have no periods for 12 months in a row and your estrogen is usually low. You could be bleeding due to the coumadine but you would be bleeding elsewhere probably. Is your coumadine level ok? The hot flashes sound like your close to menopause. Have your periods gotten shorter or lighter or started later?
I have night sweats only so far and my period starts late and is very very light.
Are there any side effects, etc., long term in women who are postmenopausal? Had my ovaries out a week ago. Feel good but just wondering about what others have felt further on.
low fat, try to maintain a good enough weight, and exercise. (the latter not only for the weight but because active people make less estrogen) like, women who run a great deal often have very small breasts and they lose their periods.
I personally try to eat very little meat and I try to buy organic milk because these cows are injected with all sorts of hormones, and the milk is also contaminated. i wonder if that is why so many young boys these days have 'breasts'.
It sounds like you have vaginal dryness and atrophy which is a common problem for postmenopausal women. As estrogen decreases, the vaginal tissues dry and atrophy. This causes pain like you described. When you have this condition, it does not matter how much lubrication you at the time of intercourse. Your tissues are so dry that they cut and bleed with any friction. Luckily, there is a remedy.
The largest epidemiologic study of postmenopausal women reports a 34% increase in risk of breast cancer among women with the highest compared to lowest quartiles of circulating PRL levels.
Best wishes...
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