I am really confused as to why I need the hormone pills for my hormone caused breast cancer. I have already been through the menopause so surely I am naturally suppressed?
Before the menopause, oestrogen is mainly produced in the ovaries. After the menopause, the ovaries no longer produce oestrogen, but some oestrogen is still made in body fat. This process involves an enzyme (a type of protein) called aromatase.
Aromatase inhibitors stop this enzyme from working. This means there’s less oestrogen in the body to help breast cancer cells to grow."
I just learned something....thank you...because I was going to ask the Oncologist that since I am going to have a hysterectomy can I skip the pills?
I didn't know the ovaries only gave off the oestrogen pre-menopause and after it was the fat cells.
I still am going to ask if there is anything else...I don't want to take a pill for 5 years because I read a "clinical" study that said it didn't have a much different result of reoccurrence than not taking the pill....so I am going to ask my Oncologist his thoughts...when I meet him.
I think it is quite commonplace to ask us to stop our hormone blocking tablets a couple of weeks before surgery and then to restart afterwards. I would definitely check with your team before stopping your tablets though.
