PLEASE HELP

Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30 and had a double masectomy. The cancer is estrogen positive and I also tested positive for the brca 2 gene. I also had a hysterectomy with the ovaries removed. Just recently I started to bleed vaginally and have pain. Dr says that the vaginal wall is thin and it should be thick. Dr says that the pain and bleeding will get worse. The Dr. has tried arimedex and raloxifene and neither have worked due to side affects. Tamoifen is out due to family clots with this. The doctor said the last resort is estrogen inserted vaginally. I was told that taking this increases my risks of brest cancer again. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

Even if estrogen is locally applied to the vaginal canal, significant amounts of estrogen can still find its way into the systemic circulation.  Your cancer, being positive for estrogen receptors, may indeed develop an increased activity when exposed to estrogen.  

I suggest you talk with your doctor about a possible surgical approach to this problem rather than hormonal treatment.  But in the end, if no other options are present, then you may have to weigh the risks and benefit of local estrogen treatment.

Regards.