Estrace/Estring/Vagifem during chemo? |
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
LizBC 
Newbie 
Joined: Feb 09 2014 Location: Victoria Canada Status: Offline Points: 32 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: Estrace/Estring/Vagifem during chemo?Posted: Apr 20 2014 at 3:33pm |
|
Happy Easter everyone!
I have a weekend trip and my anniversary coming up in May and desperately want to have a problem-free romantic getaways with my wonderfully supportive husband. I went to my oncologist last week to ask for Estrace or Estring or anything to get a bit of estrogen back into my nether regions. Despite the negligible amount of estrogen that would get into my bloodstream, my oncologist said no to anything with estrogen in it. Very frustrating for me, because it seems to me from reading the posts, that the majority of oncologists consider this product safe for TNBC (and some even for E+). She tried to placate me by saying that even if they prescribed it, the chemo would negate any beneficial effect the estrogen may bring. I didn't find that very plausible, as the estrogen is absorbed into the tissues, not the bloodstream... The oncologists at my cancer centre are very conservative. Has anyone used an estrogen product like Vagifem or Estrace during chemo, and if so, did it work? I'm thinking about asking my GP for a sneaky prescription if it works during chemo. Liz |
|
|
DX IDC TNBC Dec 2013 age 45, Stage 1, Grade 3, 1.7cm, 0/4Nodes, lumpectomy Jan 2013, DD AC x 4 and Paclitaxel x 4 Feb 2014, rads, BRCA neg
|
|
 |
|
|
TriplePositiveGirl
Senior Member 
Joined: Oct 07 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Status: Offline Points: 667 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 20 2014 at 9:45pm |
|
Hi Liz,
I have been using the Estrace cream for a few years now and it works very well. I decided to go to a gynecological oncologist to get an opinion and he felt it was fine to use the Estrogen cream. My regular oncologist was a bit hesitant, but when I said my quality of life was affected by this issue, she understood. The amount of estrogen is very little anyhow. The only question is whether it would be effective while on chemo - I used it after I was done my treatment. Maybe one of the other gals here have tried it during chemo. Vaginal atrophy is hard enough to deal with at any age, but experiencing this due to the fact that we are having chemo is adding insult to injury! Wishing you the best, Lisa
|
|
|
Diagnosed Jan 2010; Stage IIa, grade 2, 3.2cm in rt. breast, no nodes and BRCA-. 4 cycles Carbo/Gemzar 3/10; Lump 6/10; 2 cycles carbo/gem after surgery 8/10; 35 Rads finished 12/1/10. NED.
|
|
|
|
|
LizBC
Newbie
Joined: Feb 09 2014 Location: Victoria Canada Status: Offline Points: 32 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 21 2014 at 11:41am |
|
Thanks for your response Lisa. Maybe I will try again next week with my oncologist, using your argument of quality of life.
Liz |
|
|
DX IDC TNBC Dec 2013 age 45, Stage 1, Grade 3, 1.7cm, 0/4Nodes, lumpectomy Jan 2013, DD AC x 4 and Paclitaxel x 4 Feb 2014, rads, BRCA neg
|
|
|
|
|
TriplePositiveGirl
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 07 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Status: Offline Points: 667 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 21 2014 at 11:47am |
|
Good luck Liz. To me, quality of life trumps all arguments.
Lisa :) |
|
|
Diagnosed Jan 2010; Stage IIa, grade 2, 3.2cm in rt. breast, no nodes and BRCA-. 4 cycles Carbo/Gemzar 3/10; Lump 6/10; 2 cycles carbo/gem after surgery 8/10; 35 Rads finished 12/1/10. NED.
|
|
|
|
Topic Options|
Post Reply
|
|
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |