topic Re: HRT and Cancer in Wellness

HRT and Cancer

Vivian — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 16:53:25 GMT

I am really upset today. I have two close friends who were on hormone replacement therapy for over 20 years. One friend was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago. One of her doctors told her that the first step in treatment was to get off HRT immediately. I mentioned this to my other friend and was met with a lecture on why the HRT her doctor gave her for 25 years was no problem. Well, now that friend has endometrial cancer. The biopsies she had last week revealed a very threatening prognosis. Now she's angry at her gynecologist for allowing her to take these hormones for so long. I commiserated with her but I was thinking how foolish she was to put all her trust in this negligent physician who ignored all the research on HRT and cancer.

Re: HRT and Cancer

hoosieroriginal — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 16:59:54 GMT

@Vivian Florimond wrote:
I am really upset today. I have two close friends who were on hormone replacement therapy for over 20 years. One friend was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago. One of her doctors told her that the first step in treatment was to get off HRT immediately. I mentioned this to my other friend and was met with a lecture on why the HRT her doctor gave her for 25 years was no problem. Well, now that friend has endometrial cancer. The biopsies she had last week revealed a very threatening prognosis. Now she's angry at her gynecologist for allowing her to take these hormones for so long. I commiserated with her but I was thinking how foolish she was to put all her trust in this negligent physician who ignored all the research on HRT and cancer.

I totally agree with you. I have never been on HRT and never would. I would just deal with the symptoms.

Re: HRT and Cancer

willdob3 — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:04:55 GMT

I'm sorry - your friends seem to have blindly trusted their doctors with their health. It is a dangerous thing to do & more people are realizing that every day.

They were most likely using manmade hormone replacement & no human was ever meant to have that stuff in their body. There are safe options but most (there are exceptions) doctors don't know or recommend them. They only know and recommend the patented moneymakers from big pharma.

I hope your friends are successfully treated.

Re: HRT and Cancer

ALRATIBA — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:05:29 GMT

I know two women who died from cancer after years of HRT.

It's not only HRT. They are also finding all sorts of side effects from BC pills.

I recall all sorts of warnings years ago about HRT and BC. But - women chose to ingore them.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:12:26 GMT

I had HRT therapy for over 20 years. I never had a problem with it at all. I stopped it for a time and was so sick my Dr put me back on it. Then the insurance company (a new one) would not fill the medicine just like that! My Dr filled out all of the paper work required and they STILL would not fill it. Each person is different. I'm 70 years old. I trust my Dr I've had for 35 years. He knows me better than some insurance company that I've had for a few months.

I had a hysterectomy right after my daughter was born 36 years ago. I have no history anywhere in my family of any kind of cancer, mental problems, but not cancer. It makes me really angry at the stage of my life.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Kachina624 — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:17:12 GMT

I too was on HRT for many years but quit cold the day they announced the link to breast cancer. My doctor called me a day or two later to tell me to quit it but I'd already done it. Strangely, after I quit taking the pills, I never had a single symptom which led me to believe I didn't really need to be taking them.

Re: HRT and Cancer

tends2dogs — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:21:33 GMT

@Vivian Florimond wrote:
I am really upset today. I have two close friends who were on hormone replacement therapy for over 20 years. One friend was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago. One of her doctors told her that the first step in treatment was to get off HRT immediately. I mentioned this to my other friend and was met with a lecture on why the HRT her doctor gave her for 25 years was no problem. Well, now that friend has endometrial cancer. The biopsies she had last week revealed a very threatening prognosis. Now she's angry at her gynecologist for allowing her to take these hormones for so long. I commiserated with her but I was thinking how foolish she was to put all her trust in this negligent physician who ignored all the research on HRT and cancer.

@Vivian Were your friends on bioidentical or the synthetic hormones? It makes a big difference. Also, I was under the assumption that women were only suppose to be on the synthetic ones for a few years, just to ease through menapause. The fact the doctors let these women take the synthetic ones for over 20 years is criminal. Also, I am surprised that they never ordered pelvic ultrasounds to check for endometrial thickening.

I feel for your friends and all the women who put their trust in a doctor, never questioning or learning about what they are putting into their bodies. People do more research before buying a car or an electronic than they do for a med that their doctor prescribes. Sad.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Vivian — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:25:51 GMT

When I was in my 40s, I did tesearch on HRT. It was quite clear, even then, that the potential problems were not worth taking the stuff. I told my doctor I wanted no part of it and she was fine with it. I survived all the sympyoms, without much ado. I know others suffered more than I did but nothing is worth getting cancer.

Re: HRT and Cancer

SXMGirl — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:26:15 GMT

@Vivian, I am so sorry about your friends. While I have never been on any hormone replacement, there have been serious concerns for many years. My family doctor never even suggested it for me, but I do believe that the relationship between patient and doctor is so important when making decisions on medications. I have no idea what the prognosis might be for each of your friends, but I hope that there is hope for them.

Re: HRT and Cancer

motherinlaw — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:42:48 GMT

I have a first cousin who took HRT for many years and develped breast cancer. She is fine now but dealt with it twice. Doctor's told her it was from taking HRT.

I remember when this was suppose to be the greatest thing and also remember years later when the medical industry changed their minds. Thanks.

Feel so bad for the women who were sold this false sense of security....my cousin being one of them.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Shelbelle — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:46:33 GMT

I would never use any kind of HRT, . My gyno tried to get me to use estrogen cream, said it is considered topical. I said but it still gets inserted into the bloodstream. When I looked on the website it said first thing, it is considered topical, but a small amt does go into the system, so no thanks!! You have to be your own advocate, you cannot think docs are Gods, that is just too old school. Do your own research and your own homework. It has been years since they first said HRT can be dangerous. Just like now with baby powder with talc causing ovarian cancer, they said this 20 years ago.

Re: HRT and Cancer

twinkies — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 17:53:56 GMT

Hormone replacemnt therapy is contraversial and really is a personal coice , I myself have never taken it , Hoever just for though you might want to try a milk thistle supplement , Milk thistle has many of the properties of hormone like relacement and according to many studies does not cause cancer , It can actually help prevent cancer , It helps your ovaries and reudces many of the symptoms of menopause , Milk thistle is also good and helps prevent any kind of liver damage especially idf you are on methotrexate and keeps your liver enzymes from elavating , I have taken it for years , Try a good orgaic or kosher brand , Because of my arthritis my typing is limited but you can look milk thistle up . Its a good supplemet for everyone

Cathy from ma.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Melania — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:18:02 GMT

No one was meant to take HRT for that long unless they had a premature hysterectomy and even then they go off it as they reach peri-menopause.

The reason it is taken is because when a younger person loses their ovaries etc. it sets them up for early heart issues. That is why it is given in these cases.

There are many women who complain about the symptom's of menopause and demand something to ease them. Doctors are up against the wall.

I'm curious how they knew for a fact it caused breast cancer. I know many people who have it and NEVER took HRT.

It's so easy to blame the doctor. Why aren't women researching before they take anything?? If a hormone is lacking there is a reason and usually it is nature's course.

Re: HRT and Cancer

SeaMaiden — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:36:27 GMT

The information tying HRT to cancer has been in the news for many many years. why women would chose to take them knowing that is beyond me. It is like a person choosing to smoke knowing the dangers of smoking. I guess it is just a bad stupid choice. No one to blame than the individual choosing to make a bad choice with all the science saying DON'T DO IT. People need to be informed and ask lots of questions.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Zhills — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:28:20 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:
I had HRT therapy for over 20 years. I never had a problem with it at all. I stopped it for a time and was so sick my Dr put me back on it. Then the insurance company (a new one) would not fill the medicine just like that! My Dr filled out all of the paper work required and they STILL would not fill it. Each person is different. I'm 70 years old. I trust my Dr I've had for 35 years. He knows me better than some insurance company that I've had for a few months.
I had a hysterectomy right after my daughter was born 36 years ago. I have no history anywhere in my family of any kind of cancer, mental problems, but not cancer. It makes me really angry at the stage of my life.

Worth paying the extra in my book!

Re: HRT and Cancer

PINKdogWOOD — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:38:01 GMT

When I was in my 40s and started menopause my gyno dr tried his best to get me to take HRTs. I continued to refuse. I know some women have extreme menopausal effects and swear by their HRT and I get that.

That just isn't me. I do my best to not have to take prescriptions drugs. Regardless of how bad my symptoms were and lasted as many YEARS as they did, I still would have never taken HRTs. This again is just me.

Re: HRT and Cancer

muttmom — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:39:23 GMT

Why would someone need HRT for over 25 years?

Re: HRT and Cancer

willdob3 — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 18:44:54 GMT

@muttmom wrote:
Why would someone need HRT for over 25 years?

Side effects of menopause do not go away for everyone. The suggestion that they last for a short time and then then go away once one is post-menopausal is incorrect. It varies with each person.

Re: HRT and Cancer

151949 — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 20:11:18 GMT

Taking bioidenticals for a few years through menopause is no where near the same as taking them for years and years. Why a doctor would keep someone on HRT past menopause is a mystery to me.I know a woman who just passed away at age 91 who has been on premarin since menopause. She died of bladder cancer.

Re: HRT and Cancer

Q4u — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 21:54:55 GMT

A friend of my Mother's was on HRT for years and years and died of brain cancer....

My Mother did not use HRT and neither have I. I believe that if you need it to help the symptoms while going through the change that's good, but 25 years?