foregoing radiation- maybe arimidex too- help!

I had a tubular 3 mm carcinoma that was discovered in my biopsy that was done b/c of suspicious calcifications on my mammogram. The tumor was not where they were looking. It just was nearby and sort of came out. There was no more cancer found when they did the partial mastectomy. Nodes and margins were clear. I was told that this is first of all a rare type of cancer and very small. It's on the left side and I was worried about late term effects of radiation- so after having a war with one Rad. Onc. I found another- highly recommended- who said careful watching protocol is a reasonable choice for me so I am not doing radiation. He did, as well as the Med. Onc. recoommend arimidex which after reading all the side effects scares the hell out of me. Should I fry my bones and brains (they haven't finished studying the effect on the brain which is also estrogen rich) on the chance it may recur- and then again, may not? Or am I just being stupid?

Many people forego the radiation. What's most important is that you are at peace with your decision - how we feel about ourselves (the decisions we make) can either positively or negatively influence the chemical balance of our bodies, and that in turn can either work to prevent or promote cancer.  The more postively we feel about ourselves, the better our body chemistry will be.

As for the Arimidex, many also forego that, or get into treatment and then decide to quit because the side effects are so bad.  But there is a way to achieve the same results as arimidex, without the side effects, and with the added advantage of being able to control just how much we estrogen deplete ourselves.  That way is through the use of natural therapy to both block estrogen reception and inhibit aromatase, just as the prescription drugs do. 

Foods, plants, herbs, and some supplements contain phytochemicals - in this case the active ones we seek are phytosterols/phytoestrogens.  Weak phytoestrogens will act as estrogen blockers or aromatase inhibitors (the desired effect), whereas strong phytoestrogens will act like hormone  replacement therapy (undesired effect.)  Some naturals and supplements affect the body's production of estrogen in other ways.  e.g. plain aspirin, when used once daily as a supplement, inhibits the release of prostaglandins that are needed to produce aromatase. Very simple thing to do - take 325mg aspirin everyday. Not ALL you need to do, but when combined with other natural approaches, very effective.

Estradiol is the form of estrogen that cancer uses to feed. My estradiol level was in the 20's a year ago ; with use of natural alternatives it was down below 5 about 3 weeks ago. (Which actually is TOO low - as my skin is protesting, so now I am trying to raise it just a little bit.)

Mention that the brain uses estrogen also, and that the effect of arimidex, etc, on the brain has not been studied is very interesting.  The only research I have seen on this was aimed at the effects of herbs - I think specifically grape-seed extract - on estrogen production and utilization.  The study did look at cognitive effects, and did not find any deficits. As long as the body does not TOTALLY shut down production of estrogen, and as long as the naturals being used do not easily cross the blood brain barrier, it seems from this study that the effect on the brain is minimal.  (Of course very severe estrogen depletion WILL limit availability.) So it seems important to use a combination of estrogen blockers AND aromatase inhibitors - cut down some but not totally on the production of estrogen, and use estrogen blockers that do not cross the blood brain barrier but instead will block receptor sites in places such as the breast, the major organs other than the brain. I'm not saying I have a formula for doing that - but I believe it could be done.

As for how I got my estradiol level so low, I have published my natural regimen on my blog - you are welcome to look at it.  I do not intend this as a prescription for anyone - everyone's body chemistry is different, and what is a good combination of naturals for me is not necessarily a good combination for someone else.  However, there are many simple and inexpensive things I do that could be of benefit to others, and I have tried to highlight them in my blog article. Please feel free to look at anything else on the blog that interests you.

http://motherearthtreasurechest.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-pers

Please pay attention to my recommendations on selenium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc and vitamin D-3.  Many experts on alternative therapies say these elements are absolutely essential for anyone fighting cancer or trying to prevent recurrence.

Sincerely,

Tre

Do many forego both? I'd like to hear from others with my type of cancer too. Thanks for your info. I have checked your site out and added it to my favorites for more info later.

Hi!  I read your post.  I had stage 1 BC 5 years ago and my surgeon indicated to me that they will take enough tissue to obtain clear margins entirely around the tumor but there is always a possibility of micro cells present.  This is the reason for radiation to sort of clean up the area.  Radiation to the breast is not bad if you use some precautions to minimize redness and irritation.  I have been taking Femara which is in the same class as Arimidex witout any side effects.  Another woman I work with was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and Femara just over 5 years, again with no adverse side effects.  You may also be one of the lucky ones that can tolerate it and also benefit if your BC was estrogen/ progesterin positive.  My surgeon put it this way, you be as aggressive as you need to be at the onset because once the "horse is out of the barn" so to speak, the chance of cure is gone and it is about prolonging life.  Better to work on cure than find out it has spread beyond the breast as there is no turning back.  I agree you have to be comfortable with your decision ultimately.  Best of luck!

 

On 11/25/2008 Leemg wrote:

Hi!  I read your post.  I had stage 1 BC 5 years ago and my surgeon indicated to me that they will take enough tissue to obtain clear margins entirely around the tumor but there is always a possibility of micro cells present.  This is the reason for radiation to sort of clean up the area.  Radiation to the breast is not bad if you use some precautions to minimize redness and irritation.  I have been taking Femara which is in the same class as Arimidex witout any side effects.  Another woman I work with was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and Femara just over 5 years, again with no adverse side effects.  You may also be one of the lucky ones that can tolerate it and also benefit if your BC was estrogen/ progesterin positive.  My surgeon put it this way, you be as aggressive as you need to be at the onset because once the "horse is out of the barn" so to speak, the chance of cure is gone and it is about prolonging life.  Better to work on cure than find out it has spread beyond the breast as there is no turning back.  I agree you have to be comfortable with your decision ultimately.  Best of luck!

 

My cancer was on the left side and very small. B/c I was a smoker for many years I am afraid the benefits don't outweigh the late term risks to the heart and lungs. I have however started the arimidex so far with no complcations. I am doing careful watching with my RO. I need to have a mammogram soon- and in six months as well as an MRI in a year and am making lifestyle changes as well as looking into CAM.

My bc was on the left side and only 4mm so that in self doesn't mean anything as far as cells left behind.  My doctor explained it only takes one micro cell to cause a problem.  They do have a new breathing apparatus for left sided bc pioneered at Jefferson Hospital in PA.  I was one of their first candidates.  It moves the heart away before radiation when it is administered.  In my case a small portion of the heart was still exposed but with some, depending on the automical placement of your heart and the the tumor placement of the breast, the entire heart can be spared.  They also have a more targeted radiation therapy since I had mine 5 years ago and instead of going in every day for 7 weeks and it can be done, I believe in a weeks time or so.  I would get a second opinion with a good radiation oncologist before I would forego this treatment.  My surgeon told me I could either have a mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation.  Radiation is actual the completion of the later. Again, if you think that only one cell is needed to start a process that can spread beyond the breast and once this occurs the average life span is two years.  Of course, some have lived with metastatic disease longer but why not do everything possible to prevent this occurence.  I am glad that you are tolerating the Arimedex well.  It definitely has been shown to REDUCE the risk of recurrence in the breast and other areas of the body.  Before you forego radiation please get as much info again from a radiation oncologist specialist.  They can give you a good estimate of the actual % of benefit in your particular case.  Best of luck to you!