Anastrazole & Oestrogen Receptive/Sensitive OVCA

[Biscuitqueen]

Hello! My Mum is Stage IV and her CA125 has now shot up to ~250 just a few months after finishing first line treatment. The doctor said that she is estrogen sensitive and has given her anastrazole but I'm wondering if this is actually an effective treatment or if she's been given this in the meantime while they wait for a recurrence & subsequent second line treatment.

I was wondering if any of you lovely ladies are estrogen sensitive and have been prescribed anastrazole? What was your advice from the doctors?

Sorry, so many questions but is there anything you changed about your diet/lifestyle to suppress the oestrogen in your system? Someone who has breast cancer recommended taking "I3C and DIM" supplements but after reading up on it, it's made me more confused.

I've searched the forum but I haven't found many posts about this topic and was hoping someone could impart their wisdom or experience with this.

Thanks in advance xx

[Purple-iris]

Sorry have no experience of this but wanted to send you and your mum a virtual big hug and send my love and best wishes for her future treatment.

I am also stage 4 ( high grade serous ) finished cabo/taxol in January and now on Avastin for a year or until stops working .

Have you tried ringing the Ovacome helpline , ( don't think open at weekend ) and Ovarian cancer Action also has a helpline .

I do know it is common if CA125 is rising to be put on Watch and Wait as long as symptoms are manageable, with regular scans to monitor tumour growth.

Hope someone with experience of being oestrogen sensitive is able to give you some advice .

Well done for all the support you are giving your mum . This is such a difficult journey for both of you and I hope you also have a special person taking care of you too . I remember looking after my mum when she was seriously ill ( not OC ) and it is exhausting so make sure you take care of yourself. 😀

Love and best wishes Kim x

[Biscuitqueen in reply to Purple-iris]

Dear Kim,

Your kind words made me smile and I felt the virtual hug Unfortunately she had a bad reaction to Avastin so couldn't take it any more but I really hope that it works for you - it seems you are in the same boat as my Mum and I greatly admire your strength to go through this.

I didn't even know Ovacome had a telephone number so I will give them a call Monday...thank you so much!

Sending another virtual hug right back x

[Friscok12]

I take letrozole for the same reason my cancer came back soon after 1st line treatmentmy ongoligist said my estrogen levels were high they won't give me more chemo to soon after First line so we hopping letrozole to try stop it growing it's like starving the cancer of it fertilisers not had many side effects only down side is you have to take it for 3 mounths before they know it's working my ca125 levels still rising get blood test every 4 weeks but doctor said it the ca125 after 3 mouths treatment they look at any other qustions just ask I take mine at night which my ongoligst advised less side affects cause you sleeping xxx

[Biscuitqueen in reply to Friscok12]

Thanks for your advice and your explanation...I hope that it will work for you. I will let my Mum know that it's better to take it at night Thanks again!

[Di16]

I was on a trial of Anastrazole for 6 months 4 years ago. It kept my oc stable for a while, with little in the way of side effects. I was told I would have a scan every 3 months and take the tablets for as long as it kept my cancer stable or reduced the size of my tumours. For me it was worth trying it.

[Biscuitqueen in reply to Di16]

Hi Di16 - yes at the moment we are open to trying anything and it seems that although not many women are prescribed this, hearing your story reinforces my Mum's faith in the drug! Even if it doesn't work, it's worth trying

[LesleyGreengran]

I had tamoxifen years ago but it didn't work for me. I think there are newer more effective ones.

[Biscuitqueen in reply to LesleyGreengran]

Hi Lesley, I'm sorry to hear that it didn't work for you, I'm coming to the understanding that these oestrogen inhibitors aren't really hugely effective but at this point we're willing to try anything. I hope you're keeping your spirits up and are doing ok xx

[LesleyGreengran in reply to Biscuitqueen]

It works well for some and for others (maybe me too) outs it off for those months you need to get over the chemo. It's worth a try cos we all respond differently.

[Wigan2]

Hi I am low grade and oestrogen sensitive. I went on letrozole which is a similar drug. I was on it for 4 months. It slowed the growth of mt cancer down by about 50%. Unfortunately one of my tumours started growing abnormally fast for me so I had to start chemo.

[Biscuitqueen in reply to Wigan2]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear that one of the tumours started growing. It's a real thug of a disease this. I hope you're doing as well as you can be on chemo and that the side effects aren't too bad

[Wigan2]

Meant to say there is information on website canceractive and there is a book. I'm not saying that all info is correct but worth a look

[Biscuitqueen in reply to Wigan2]

Thanks so much for pointing me to this, Going to check it out

[Wigan2 in reply to Biscuitqueen]

It's a bit alternative but some good information.

[LesleyGreengran in reply to Wigan2]

Hi, got cousins in Wigan. They sing in choirs there. Is that where you are?

[Wigan2 in reply to LesleyGreengran]

Hi no I don't live in Wigan I follow the rugby team I live just across the border in north Wales.

[Wobb70]

I’m the same. Have taken Anastrazole for 5 years post surgery. No recurrence of cancer. Good luck to your mum.