Oestrogen therapy

Thanks Afraser

I’ve had a bone density test every couple of years. Although my bone density was excellent when I started Letrozole, I too was found to have a low level of Vitamin D and had to raise it before starting chemo. I continue taking it and calcium, just like you. My breast surgeon recommended Ovestin three times a week, I felt safer with twice a week and now only use it once every couple of weeks, a maintenance level. It is a personal thing, in terms of your own confidence and comfort. Best wishes.

How often does Bone Density get checked with Letrazole?
I was told that I was Vitamin D deficient and had Osteopenia about 10 years ago.
So for 10 years I have been taking Vit D and Calcium.
I've recently finished radiotherapy and soon start Letrazole.
My Gynacologist had wanted me to use Ovestin x2 week.
My Oncologist had me settle on using this x1 week.
It's hard to know, what is correct for ourselves.
I don't have a busy sex life, but it is important in the relationship.
It's a difficult balance.

Good luck! Letrozole has reduced my bone density too but happily I started from a really good base - money in the bank so to speak, so I may make my ten years without serious damage. I’ll stop though if bone thinning increases as there’s no research (at least none that my oncologist knows about and he’s pretty cluey) to say if eight years is better than five or nine significantly worse than ten! Best wishes. 

Thanks Afraser for your response. I am 62 so also well through menopause. I’m keen to try this well before I cease tamoxifen. I have also been on femara for 7.5 years, but it made my bones thin, so I was swapped to tamoxifen. I was nearly, but not quite osteoporotic, and the tamoxifen has helped reverse that a little bit. 

I use oestrogen cream, very sparingly, to combat vaginal dryness and the possibility of prolapse. I was diagnosed eight years ago and I am on Femara (Letrozole).  My surgeon encouraged me to use the cream two years ago, but I am 75, my natural production of oestrogen is plummeting and he is confident that a very small application, infrequently, will not encourage any recurrence and will help overcome the effects of vaginal atrophy. Like everything else with bc, it’s individual. Best wishes.