How to tell if Hormone-blocking drugs are working / no longer working, please

I’ve wondered about this as well X

Hi Honey1810

Yes, I keep reading 'it stopped working', etc but how on earth do you know?  Some tablets it would be quite obvious but these ..... ?????   

I’m seeing Oncologist after radiotherapy I will ask her and post on here X

Honey1810

Ooh, great opportunity. 

Would you tag me, if you can remember, please, to make sure I get notification? 

If I find out anything, I'll post here too

Thanks very much

When is your radiotherapy?  5 days, or the 15 days?  I hope you get on as well as I did.  I must have the right skin type - I didn't burn easily in the sun in my youth LOL  Lots of creams/ lotions ...  :)

Good issue to raise , I’ve often wondered about this too. I would have thought they could measure our oestrogen levels? But it’s probably not that simple. Look forward to hearing the response from your oncologist Honey1810. Xxx

Hi HappyFeet1

That's a good thought but they would have had to measure oestrogen levels before starting the hormone-blockers, to know if the level has changed.

I, for one, haven't had oestrogen levels checked    If they had been, then it would seemingly be easier to know.  Even so, it sounds like individuals seem to know it's not working but I could have got that wrong, of course 

Hi all

Oestrogen inhibitors letrozole, tamoxifen, etc block production of Oestrogen to minimise chances of Oestrogen positive cancers returning. I have never heard of anyone been tested for levels. Sadly I suppose if it stops working there could be reoccurrence. These are preventative medicines. As a Nurse this is my understanding anyway I have been on letrozole for over a year. They reduce reoccurrence chances by certain percentages.

Hope this helps a bit

Xxx

Hi,

Its a good question, I'm sure many of us have often wondered. I am also on AI's and asked my GP about this and he just said it wasn't an easy thing to check but, if you are having side effects from them like hot flushes, joint pain etc he said that was a good indication they were working! I might ask my Consultant the question to see what his response is. 

Hi peterawake

Thanks for this.  I didn't tolerate Tamoxifen, nor Anastrozole, some years ago and stopped them after a while because my risk benefit taking them was only 2%

Again, risk benefit is considered 2%!!! 

The first Letrozole I took were awful and I stopped after 11 days of them as my joints were seizing up, potentially jeopardising having radiotherapy, which was on top of a severe and complex shoulder injury also potentially compromising radiotherapy, hence my decision.  It wasn't under discussion!!!  However, I've since started Letrozole (Accord) and I seem to have much less issue, apart from fatigue, but it does make me wonder if the Letrozole is 'working'.  I can only think that, the way I feel since taking them, they will be working

Other than that, do people just get no side effects if they're not effective BUT it seems many don't get side effects.  Also many don't have problems with menopause so they possibly wouldn't have issues with hormone-blockers

I'd just love to understand a bit more about how one can tell how well they're working, other than wait ...  LOL  I had 9 yrs between my first primary breast cancer and second primary (opposite breast)