Estrogen Crean

[Joeym1040]

Anyone using estrogen cream?

How much?

Where can i get it in the US?

Joe

[Wassersug]

Joe,

I can't answer your question about an estrogen cream, but I have use the fast drying transdermal estradiol product, Estrogel for ADT. You physician can write you a script. The price varies wildly depending on where you live in. It is an off label use for men and is primarily marketed to women who are bothered by the side effects of menopause.

Unlike cream products the gel leaves no film on the skin at all.

[Joeym1040 in reply to Wassersug]

Thanks...will look into it. My MO agrees and we will discuss which way we go

at next appointment in 3 weeks.

[Break60 in reply to Wassersug]

Joe

How much do you use per application and how often do you put it on . How low has it reduced your T level?

Did you use Lupron before and how much less are the side effects from Estrogel?

Bob

[Wassersug in reply to Break60]

Was this message for me or Bob?

In any case, I use about three squirts from the estrogel cylinder a day, with the gel spread on my thighs and abdomen. About 16 years ago, when I started on transdermal estradiol (tE2), I was using five squirts a day.

My T has stayed in the castrate range, but if I think it is getting a bit high, I just add another squirt of estrogel for a few days.

I was on Lupron for over two years. The side effects, for me at least, were much less with tE2 than with the LHRH agonists. [I've published an essay some academic papers on this that I can send you if you send me a private email with an email address for you that will allow attachments.

The difference in side effect profile for the various ADT options are reviewed in extensive detail in the ADT book and in blog entries at the LIFEonADT.com website. You are welcome to check out both.

In fact anyone on this list should do that before pushing their oncologists for tE2. You need to recognizing that using tE2 for ADT is an off-label use in North America and the final results from the Phase III PATCH clinical trial in the UK are not yet in.

Richard W.

[Joeym1040 in reply to Wassersug]

Thank you so much. I was on and off lupron since 2011. Then I was in a clinical try for a year using an estrodoil cream. It worked great but it was triple blind and I dont know the dose I had. When I go online to buy the gel there are so many I am not sure which is the right one. Can you tell me exactly what you use and where I can get it. My doctor has had patients who used patches, but no experience with the gel. He is fine with me trying the gel since I did so well in the trial. Appreciate you help and would be great to read anything you have. My email is

[e-mail].

Thanks again

[Wassersug in reply to Joeym1040]

Joe,

I would like to know more about the estradiol cream trial you were in. Who ran it? What were the alternative arms on the study? By that I mean, if you were not getting tE2, what were you supposedly getting instead? When did the trial end? Why did it end?

Was it a really a cream that you used and not a gel? I know of a gel study that closed early, but I have never heard of a study with a tE2 cream product. Do you know why it was never published?

The product I use is simply called Estrogel and is currently sold in Canada by Merck. I have found it much easier to use and manage than the tE2 patches.

[Joeym1040 in reply to Wassersug]

Here is the trial. I am going to try to find out what my dose was.

smartpatients.com/trials/NC...

[Wassersug in reply to Joeym1040]

OK. I know that trial. First of all, I believe it was for the same gel that I use and not a cream. Secondly if I am right about the trial, it closed without any results because it failed to accrue adequately. In my view the company did not do enough to advertise the trial. However I also belief you have a legal right to find out whatyu were given when you were on the drug. Furthermore, since it worked for you, you might want to go back on it.

[Joeym1040 in reply to Wassersug]

I definitely want to get back on it, and its great that it is the same GEL that you use.

When i find out i will let you know. Thanks again. [e-mail].

[Break60 in reply to Wassersug]

Richard

My urologist used the oral version for years back when it was popular and said he’d give me a script for the patches or gel . My email is [e-mail] . I’d much appreciate your research!

Bob

[Joeym1040 in reply to Break60]

I have not used it yet myself. i was in a clinical trial for a year using estrodoil gel, but was never told what my does was. Here is the link to the trial:

smartpatients.com/trials/NC...

[EdBar]

Just get a script for the patches, I’ve been using them for a few years now for bone health and ADT side effects, first prescribed by Snuffy Myers.

Ed

[Joeym1040 in reply to EdBar]

Thanks.

[dogstar1]

My husband has been doing the same as EdBar (patches). He started with the gel (not cream), but found the patches worked better. Via prescription from his oncologist. The cost to us is only about $7 per month because of generic being available, but I'm sure that varies by plan.

[Joeym1040 in reply to dogstar1]

Thanks all. i was in a clinical trial using cream and it worked great, but not available yet.

I heard the patches were somewhat inconvenient having to figure out how many and

how often to change. But i will look into it.

[Break60 in reply to dogstar1]

Dogstar1

Interesting. I’ve used one .1mg patch twice weekly for hot flashes since 2015 .

One patch is no big deal but 4-6 would be a real pain imho. How many and often did you reapply ?

Bob

[dogstar1 in reply to Break60]

Sorry for the late reply. My husband's been using 4 patches at a time for so long that he doesn't even think about it. Not a pain at all. He changes them every 3-to-4 days. When he started, our oncologist wasn't sure about dosage, so we read the articles from the PATCH trial in the UK and used the protocol talked about there. While some folks there were able to drop down to fewer, we've stayed with four.

Oh, and, yes, his also are 0.1mg patches.

[Break60 in reply to dogstar1]

Wow much cheaper than the brand I’ve been using!!! What is the name of the generic? Is $7 your copay?

Bob

[dogstar1 in reply to Break60]

The brand often varies, depending on what the pharmacy gets. Most recently, the patches are from Sandoz; the box also says, "Product of Netherlands." There are 8 patches per box. Our insurance lets us purchase a month's supply at a time (4 boxes) for a $7.00 copay. One reason I am still working is the great health insurance benefit <grin>!

[Break60 in reply to dogstar1]

Thanks! I hope Medicare Part D has similar benefit!

[Break60]

So to all of you who are using E2 in lieu of an lhrha , how are you doing in terms of keeping PSA and T down and is your Quality of life better?

Bob

[Joeym1040 in reply to Break60]

Not sure i answered before. If duplicate please ignore.

During my 1 year trial using gel my PSA <0.1 and my T was 10.

Slight tenderness in breast but not significant.(i had radiation prior to trial to reduce breast enlargement and it worked well). That was about it. I plan to start on EstroGel in the next few weeks when i have to restart treatment. PSA now, 14 months later is 9.1.