Topic: Progesterone cream

Dear Ladies, I apologize if my first post offended you. My mother was diagnosed with BC in Jan 08 and underwent 2 surgeries and 6 chemo treatments. I went to all of her appointments and stayed in the hospital with her. The experience was painful, even more because she is my best friend. My family members are not strangers to cancer: my grandmother died of cancer (in 11 organs) and my great aunt had breast cancer. I do not want to pass this heritage on to my two beautiful daughters.

My mother is not computer savvy; she struggles to attach a photo to an email. She does not search the Internet. So I investigate online, explain options to her, and frequently speak for her. We've been concerned about her taking tamoxifen and wondered about natural agents, so I was excited to see this public thread, to read what you have learned about progesterone, and to learn about new resources, such as Dr. Lee's book.

I posted on this website because you are the knowledgeable ones. You have read and taken risks and assessed the outcomes. Several of you say that you want your voices to be heard. I would like to be an instrument to make women's voices be heard, so I returned to school. Ultimately, I hope to evaluate how women successfully share information to educate their physicians so we can empower women. So I asked for your ideas: to learn from you. I did not seek to infringe but rather to ask your preferences and opinions as experts.

I should not have asked here. I saw the openness of the women on this site and thought perhaps some of you would share your wisdom with me. Again, I apologize for appearing to be insensitive; I am not, and this issue is very personal. I have removed my offensive post and, to ensure that I do not offend again, I will abstain from posting.

God bless each of you.

Dear cslambs:

First of all, I am really sorry for your Mom's diagnosis. I think it is beautiful of you to want to learn as much as you can in order to help her during this most difficult time.

I sincerely believe that everybody on this site wants their voice heard. That's why they are here. I further believe that many people would be willing and happy to respond to your questions directly on this forum, and would not feel like you are intruding (after all, some non-Stage IV participants have been hanging around the Stage IV forum and are very well received, and that's how it should be....).

Indeed, feel free to PM questions, as well, if that's easier for you.

I am sure that most of us would be happy to have you among us in the future......

Virve

Do you mind sharing what your hormone numbers where that indicated they were out of balance. How did you know your Porgesterone was low in balance to your estorgen?

Robyn, when you used the teensy tiny amounts of estriol cream vaginally, did it also help with the dryness.

My GYN recommended estring, but she said not until I am a few years out. I was not aware of what kind of estrogen it is. She said it really works though.

<<looking this up in google>> 

NO oh brother. It looks like the estring is estradiol!!!  I would not touch that, that's the dangerous estrogen, if I am remebering correctly from Dr. Lee's book. Why in the heck would they do that? Why didn't they use Estriol!??

That is very concerning to me. Good GRIEF!!!!

Can someone help me understand the PR+ . And how does that get affected by adding progesterone?

If you have your tumor removed at certain times of your cycle, you will more likely come up pr+ because you higher progesterone levels at that time. In fact, my compounding pharm told me there is a study that proves that women who have breast and cervical surgerys when they are cycling progesterone have better outcomes because of the protective nature of the progesterone. Meanwhile the doctdors tell us that being PR+ means nothing and that they are only concerned about the estrogen levels. Frankly I think the whole hormone testing of the tumors is worthless. Why they just do not take a urine sample so we know more specifically what our hormone levels are is beyond me. They put us on these hormone blocking drugs without even testing our hormones, just because the tumor markers show we have hormones. Well, duh??? We are women. Doesn't that mean we have hormones? This was one of the things that got me very upset at the onset of trying to make my decisions. I just could not understand the whole idea of blocking all my hormones when they had never even tested them to begin with. And when they tell us that we are strongly er +, or whatever, wouldn't it make sense that it would be affected by whether or not we are cycling? It all seems so crazy.

As far as the creams go, the reason I am sticking with the one my compounding pharm makes is because I know he understands the importance of hormonal balance and he uses the right kind and the correct amounts. Plus, he is a phone call away.

Althea, I had a blood test and two urinalysis that measured all my hormone levels. Printing them would take a book, but to summarize, my progesterone and testoterone levels were almost nil. I managed to get my estrogen levels to come way down after the weight loss and diet changes, and same with my cortisol levels. When I lost all the body fat in my midriff those numbers changed because that is where estrogens and cortisol are stored. I will have another urine test done soon to see what the changes are. I am very lucky to have a hormone doc who can explain it all.

Spring-I was very lucky to find a compounding pharm in my town. He has gone to all sorts of seminars to learn the right kind of compounds. He will do consults for a fee, but I just ask him questions when I buy something. If he is not available, I tell the clerk my questions and he calls me back. I am so excited that he is going to come to my prevention convention and talk to us about boosting the immune system, iodine and BHRT. He is a great guy.

I am working out deals for hotel rooms now. You gals should team up and share to make it more affordable. Better yet, bring your friends and family who have never had bc. This is about what we all need to do, so we do not have to go through this again, and so that others may not have to either. I met a lady today who runs a salt cave, and does energy therapy. She is going to talk too. And the they are all willing to speak for free so we do not have to charge anyone to come. It is going to be fabulous.

On the other hand, I've found myself yawning and feeling sleepy much earlier than I normally would. Does anyone have a logical explanation for this?

That's an effect of progesterone (possibly maybe a bit excessive of progesterone)... it's a reason many pregnant women are so tired during the first trimester. I supplemented with progesterone (Prometrium) at my fertility specialist's recommendation, and it turned out he had prescribed double the amount he should have, and I was WIPED OUT constantly because of it. I would take two naps in one day some days!

If the sleepiness is interfering with your routine, you may want to back off a teensy bit... otherwise, if you're taking/applying it at night and you like the somnolence effect, then enjoy the great nights of sleep! 

I think its important to add progesterone to balance out estrogen dominance which most everyone with BC is regardless of hormone reception status.  I don't think I have ever come across anyone who has beneficial levels of progesterone until they supplement.  Deanna, what is the dosage you are taking?

L

ox

Hi, Lorraine ~ We were writing at the same time.  I got the KokoRo brand and am doing 1/4 tsp. (eyeballing it, as they didn't have the pump version locally), 2x day.  I've only been doing it for 3 days, and I was thinking of going 3 weeks on/1 week off. 

Great.  Thank you!  I'm pretty sure what I'm doing is what's recommended on the package, but maybe not for women who have had bc?  I really need to see that great naturopath my DS found, but I'm tapped out on medical expenses (she's pricey) and honestly can't face one more needle!   (My veins are shot from chemo, and every needle stick is an ordeal.) 

I have to admit that I've also jumped on the bandwagon about 3 weeks ago.  I bought some progesterone cream at GNC, didn't really research the brand, but the price was right.  I think it might be a very weak cream (progesterone, 5mg per oz.) and it's got a lot of other ingredients in it like almond and jojoba oils.  Initially, it was making me a little sleepy during the day, in addition to sleeping better through the nights.   I think that if I were to decide to continue on it, I'd get a better brand.  I'm just a little worried though, that it may be risky combined with the tamoxifen that I'm still on.  But I keep thinking that if tamoxifen causes my uterine lining to build up, the progesterone should counteract that effect.  I don't really know though until my next TV sono in April.  I'm not menstruating anymore, (over 8 months now), so I keep imagining that lining just growing and growing. The sono I had in Sept showed it was borderline normal and that the ovaries had lots of follicles on them.  So I imagine my FSH must be high.  I see my Onc on Thursday.  I want to see if he'll test my hormones and Vitamin D levels. 

This week, I am once again having trouble staying asleep through the whole night.   So I've experimented with some melatonin on alternating nights, and the 3 nights that I took it this past week, I did sleep through the night!  Anybody else who is using melatonin, how much are you taking?  I took 3 tabs 500mg each.  I've found that 1 tab doesn't do anything.

I'm interested in the estriol also, I've read that it's the estrogen that is specific for the urogenital area, and less harmful to the breasts.  Does anybody know if I can get it OTC?

Sounds good to me, Deni!  (flying together)  Let me know when you get yours.  And Rose, I'm glad to know that you're on board with this, too.  

Lorraine, thank you for being so well-informed on all this!  My PCP and onc would probably cringe if they knew I was using this, but I honestly don't think they know half as much about it as you do.  And they charge me!   I'll cut back to 1x/day, and hope I don't get a headache, as I used to when I'd forget or inadvertently double up on my HRT.   D.

Just have to share, gals ... This is the first morning in more than a year that my joints, especially my fingers, haven't been stiff and hurting.  What I have definitely isn't arthritis (tests for that during chemo, when it started, were all negative), but probably damage from the Taxotere.  Anyhow, it's miraculously better today, and the only thing I've added to my regimen recently is the progesterone.  So I guess we'll see if the improvement holds and continues.   D.

Deanna - I can't wait to get mine and try it! Glad to hear you are noticing a positive impact already!