estrogen blockers
 

Hello all,
I stopped chemo in November due to neuropathy and continued on with herceptin
and perjeta once every 3 weeks. Thankfully, my last scans were stable. My onc said that there is not enough evidence about estrogen blockers and if they should be used without progression of disease. So far, I have not used them, but she said it was my decision.
With my cancer being estrogen driven I am not sure if this is the right decision. I am 45 years old and this past week Im feel really pre-menstraul. I have not had a period since my first round of chemo. I am scared of having a period, and what that means about estrogen in my body.
Has anyone experienced this? Thanks
Patrice
Dx Stage IV Her +, April 2015 with collapsed lung-mets to lung, liver, questionable bone, and some nodes
Chest tube placed to relieve 5 liters of fluid in right lung
1 round of cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin until tumor biopsy confirmed Her2+
May 2015-began taxol/herceptin/perjeta
chest tube removed
3 lung taps to remove continued fluid problem and shortness of breath
September 2015- plural tube placed in lung
Continued with taxol/herceptin/perjeta
Scans slowly improved
December 2015-discontinue Taxol due to increased neuropathy in feet and hands
February 2016-plorax drain removed, fluid issue resolved. Bottom of right lung remains collapsed, but feels ok.
Continuing on herceptin/perjeta
(lost 5 yr. old daughter to cancer in 2011, after a 2.5 year battle)

Re: estrogen blockers
 

Hi and I'm not a doctor! But if your cancer is estrogen driven you should be on tamoxifen or one of the aromatase inhibitors (AI). AI's are typically given to post menopausal women and tamox is typically given to women who are still having their periods. Both are estrogen blockers but work different ways. Tamoxifen blocks estrogen in the breast while AI's block estrogen everywhere.

This is a standard of care for estrogen positive breast cancer. If your cancer is only slightly estrogen positive - there could be some debate on the effectiveness of the estrogen blockers.

Best
Janis

Re: estrogen blockers
 

Tamoxifen also blocks estrogen everywhere. Not just the breast. Discuss these medications with your doctor