Vaginal estrogen for intercourse, testosterone supplementation for muscle mass
Hi. Previously my oncologist said we could consider vaginal estrogen after 2 years with no recurrence. I am at about 2 years 4 months now and asked if I could get vaginal estrogen prescribed, and they said no without providing a reason why. No answer. None of their suggested remedies helped. I tried ALL OF THEM.
I also asked about testosterone supplementation (I had ER & PR+ ILC & IDC tumors). I was given the most basic ChatGPT answer - drink more water and get enough protein. No testosterone. I asked why. No answer.
Have any of you used vaginal estrogen to combat atrophy and dryness? If so, did it work?
Have any of you tried testosterone supplementation to help with workout recovery and to retain muscle mass? What was your experience?
Can you point me to any research about either one of these that I can take to my oncologist to discuss? Please and thank you!
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vaginal estrogen is amazing. I had to stop all hormones when I was recently diagnosed and I already miss it. I’ve been reading that it might be ok to restart but I don’t have an oncologist to ask yet. My PCP and GYN both said no for now, ask your oncologist. I’m trying revaree but it’s expensive and not as good. The black box warning just got lifted this week so hopefully that will help.
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This is the best question! ( I was wondering too). Recently my Nurse Practitioner suggested I try testosterone… which shocked me because my understanding is sometimes testosterone gets turned into estrogen in the body (I was ER PR+). So I did a ton of research and to my understanding there is still very limited evidence it is safe, especially long term. I suspect my oncologist would say my Nurse Practitioner was incorrect. Anyway, if anybody has updated information/studies, I would love to view it.
P.S. Remember when they used to say hormone replacement therapy was absolutely safe, as long as estrogen was paired with progesterone? Now the research shows THAT contributes to breast cancer… so I'm a bit skeptical of information not backed by decades of understanding. :(
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Hi I use vaginal estrogen for preventing yeast infection once a week as I am perimenopausal - it has been very effective! I'm planning on increasing it to twice week to help with urinary incontinence (noticing it when I cough or jump around 😕.
I heard this news story on national public radio recently - it was great. Basically said that HRT is safe for breast cancer survivors and might even be protective.
Listen to: What we're still learning about menopause and its symptoms - https://one.npr.org/i/wamu1a-75996:wamu1a-76015
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I’d ask your doctor for research on low-dose vaginal estrogen. For testosterone, I’d be cautious due to possible conversion to estrogen.
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@ljnesquik Hi. My oncologist told me it’s fine to take vaginal estrogen. And many of their patient do us the prescription estrogen cream for vaccinations dryness caused from vaginal atrophy which makes intercourse very painful. Vaginal atrophy causes the tissue to thin out inside the vagina and also the outside vulva, and labia and clitoris.. The estrogen cream thickens and plumps up the vaginal tissue which helps labido and pleasurable intimacy . The prescription is Estrodial Vaginal Cream USP 0.01% for 0.1 mg application of the cream . I’ve been using it for the last 2 years. I had been no recurrence and NED for 13 years and then in Jan. 2023 After scans and jump in tumor markers in my blood work I Was diagnosed with metastasis to the bone.. So even with stage IV Brest cancer now I would not be without my estrodial prescription. 😉🌷🩵 I saw this forum on active topics, I usually post on stage IV forum . https://community.breastcancer.org/en/discussion/856706/my-husband-my-life-my-love-my-family-my-cancer#latest
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