Brain fog

[Enigma52]

I have the most awful brain fog. I'm on hormone blockers for metastic breast cancer and am also menopausal.

I don't know what to do. Oestrogen feeds my cancer, so no HRT. The cancer drugs cause brain fog, letrozole causes brain fog and I'm struggling to the point I could scream!

Any ideas ? I simply can't function like this. I can't remember words or names. Im 53 and feel life is finished.

Hi @Enigma52 I’m sorry you are in this position. I have no experience of cancer/cancer treatment, only HRT and brain fog but I didn’t want to read your post and run. Im wondering if you are ok to take testosterone if not oestrogen, as it can help with brain fog. I know that often people have to have their oestrogen HRT sorted first though so perhaps this would be an issue. Just thought it might be worth a mention.

I was thinking about you only yesterday @Enigma52 and wondering how you were. Have you discussed your absolute risk of reoccurrence with your consultant? I would ask to have an appointment as soon as possible to do so and to explain that your quality of life is intolerable on the AI, and that you wish to discuss a break off it if possible. This is a perfectly reasonable request - phone their secretary, don't bother going via your GP as that just holds things up and they can be prone to throwing in their opinion, which won't be as informed as your specialist.

The reason you came to mind also was because Dr Louise Newson was talking on Instagram recently about women who are estrogen positive taking testosterone alone, and that some of the women's consultants were happy with this. If you haven't seen this, I think it was in her recent live about surgical menopause which you'll find on her page.

@iamyourequal Dr Newson has talked about taking testosterone alone for women with estrogen positive cancer recently.

@SebastianFlytesTrousers thanks for your message. I doubt there's any chance of being able to take testosterone either. It's secondary breast cancer, in my lung. Hormones feed the cancer, hence having to take the AI, to stop all remaining oestrogen from entering the body. It's just awful.

I will ask about the testosterone though. But I feel sure it's a no.

I can't have HRT due to an estrogen sensitive condition.

Things that help - all the usual like exercise, diet, sleep, walking. I recommend breathing exercises (i have a lung condition), eating a moderately high protein diet and limiting added sugar, no caffeine, ensuring you hit micro nutrient targets through nutrition, taking care of your sinus health (brain fog can be a symptom of sinusitis and I am very prone to this as take daily immunesuppressant)- I use a daily nasal rinse for sinuses every morning. Other things I take - a daily antihistamine, evening primrose oil which helps mood. Plenty of healthy fats from seeds, avocado, EVOO. No UPF bread, I only have sourdough or crosta mollica. 200g greens and 200g fruits every day. 3 litres water a day. Magnesium glycinate, b vitamin, Multivitamin, zinc on high stress days. Make sure everything you eat is nutrient dense. Minimum 20g protein per meal, ideally 30-40g. I don't drink milk but I do have almond milk and natural plain Greek biolive yoghurt and cottage cheese. Add nuts for good fats.

I also slightly follow cravings within reason. At the moment I'm obsessed with cottage cheese, strawberries and pizza.

@PamperGoals2024 sleep? That is a rarity for me. No ovaries and this bloody hormone inhibitor
Is playing havoc with everything. I eat a good diet, but I need to feel much better than this.

I just searched brain fog & this thread came up. I’m really interested in what you said about sinus health @PamperGoals2024 . I’ve always suffered, but recently I’ve got the pressure & pain in my teeth & my nose. The brain fog is horrendous & I’m having dizzy episodes. I’ve got a Neil’s med sinus rinse kit, so maybe I’ll start using it daily to see if that helps.

I take Lion’s Mane for brain fog - I’ve found it really effective