Estradiol breast cancer
Common Questions and Answers about Estradiol breast cancer
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Estradiol is one form of estrogen and is (or at least used to be) considered HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) although some refer to it as ET (estrogen therapy).
There is estrogen-only HRT and combined (estrogen plus progestin or progesterone) HRT. Women who have a uterus who take HRT must take progestin or progesterone if they take estrogen in order to protect their uterine lining from the proliferative effects of estrogen.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), in their breast cancer guidelines, has issued the following criteria for determining if a woman is likely post-menopausal:
1. At least 60 years old.
2. If less than 60 years old, the woman has stopped menstruating for 12 months or more in the absence of chemotherapy, tamoxifen, toremifene or other hormonal treatment to suppress the ovaries, AND blood levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and estradiol are in the post-menopausal range.
I am also worried bc I read with estrogen patches there is a higher chance to develop breast cancer. My mom and aunt both passed away from breast cancer within 8 months of each other in 2011 and 2012. My grandmother also had it. That really scares me. My doctor tells me nothing to worry about. I'm starting to think I need a new doctor. If anybody has any experience with any of this please share!
Estrogen doesn't cause breast cancer but it does feed it. If estrogen was the cause of breast cancer more young women would be being diagnosed with it when their estrogen levels are at their highest. Most diagnosis are made in post menopausal woman. There is one theory of thought that it may be estrone that really feeds breast cancer. Estrone is what our fat cells produce after menopause. Estradiol is what our ovaries made in our 20's and 30's.
I am going to schedule to have the Implanon removed. I had considered both of the IUD's and am not comfortable with the idea.
I have family history of breast cancer and ovarian cancer so birth control with high estrogen really isn't an option for me either.
I will probably end up on birth control pills because my doctor doesn't recommend the mini pill which I loved when I was breastfeeding.
Gynecomastia is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. the breast development shrinks or disappears within a couple of years In adolescent boys the condition is often a source of distress. The causes of common gynecomastia remain uncertain, although it has generally been attributed to an imbalance of sex hormones or the tissue responsiveness to them. Imaging by X-rays or ultrasound is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
My mother took Tamoxifen for 5 years after her second breast cancer. She lived for 14 more years, dying at 80 of undiagnosed ovarian cancer. Undiagnosed because she was SO stubborn and would not be examined for some symptoms that were pointing to that disease. All told, she lived for 27 years after her first breast cancer.
Because of its prognostic role as well as its ability to predict response to trastuzumab (Herceptin US brand name) (see below), breast tumors are routinely checked for overexpression of HER2/neu. Overexpression also occurs in other cancer such as ovarian cancer, stomach cancer, and biologically aggressive forms of uterine cancer, such as uterine serous endometrial carcinoma.
Clinically, HER2/neu is important as the target of the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (marketed as Herceptin).
There are conflicting studies, and it is unclear if phytoestrogens have any effect on the cause or prevention of cancer in females. Epidemiological studies showed a protective effect against breast cancer. In vitro studies concluded that females with current or past breast cancer should be aware of the risks of potential tumor growth when taking soy products, as they can stimulate the growth of estrogen receptor-positive cells in vitro.
I have asked my oncologist these questions and he just says that taking the AI's is the best proven way to try to stop the recurrence of breast cancer. What I am finding is that the "older" doctors have been doing it this way for 20+ years and are not willing to change. When I asked him to check my hormone levels - he said that was "garbage in garbage out" since hormone levels vary there is no reason to check them.
My estrogen level is 1140 which has me very concerned why it is this high. I do take estradiol 2 mg, but from what i have researched with HRT it should not be higher than 340. Does this mean it could be caused from ovarian cancer or are my labs just out of whack because of estradiol dose being too high??
My doctor had my FSH, LH, progesterone, and estradiol levels tested twice. Here are my results:
FSH
first test: 6.2
second test: 6.8
LH
first test: normal apparently, but I didn't see what exactly it was
second test: 7.9
Estradiol
first test: not sure, but normal apparently
second test: 52
I'm a little concerned about the estradiol. A few sources I've checked online have said that an estradiol level of above 50 can mask a high FSH. Is this true?
My Mother had cervical cancer when I was young and has been fine for years BUT two years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through treatments and then they found ovarian cancer which has spread and she is not doing well and has stopped treatments. My doctor, who I trust and who did my last surgery, recommends a hysterectomy for me with my problems and Mothers history. I have heard horror stories about it and the homorne therapy decision.
You should do a cycle day 2 o3 FSH and Estradiol to measure ovarian reserve when you are not breast feeding The other numbers are not helpful. That being said, you are 41 and therefore the chances of getting pregnant are lower. If you are interested in having another baby I would immediately stop breast feeding and try to get pregnant. If there is no success after 3 months I would do see a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist who specializes in infertility.
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