Re: HRT and Cancer

3suwm5 · ‎06-15-2016

@Vivian As a cancer survivor; you are right, NOTHING is worth it, if getting cancer from it is at all possible.

I have a friend that has family history of heart conditions, her Dr. wants her on HRT for that reason. Anyone ever hear of that??

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

There is of course always going to be someone who knows someone who had a problem when you consider the thousands of ladies on this forum. We all have different heredity that figures into this in addition to present health.

I've been on HRT for ten years. My MD interned in the largest office dealing with disease in the one of most prominent medical areas in the nation.

In our conversation several months ago, he told me that it has been discovered that the group taking HRT actually had a lower percentage of cancer.

It's impossible to compare yourself to someone because our physiology is different and the outside factors are numerous.

3suwm5 · ‎06-15-2016

@ECBG wrote:
There is of course always going to be someone who knows someone who had a problem when you consider the thousands of ladies on this forum. We all have different heredity that figures into this in addition to present health.

I've been on HRT for ten years. My MD interned in the largest office dealing with disease in the one of most prominent medical areas in the nation.

In our conversation several months ago, he told me that it has been discovered that the group taking HRT actually had a lower percentage of cancer.

It's impossible to compare yourself to someone because our physiology is different and the outside factors are numerous.

@ECBG Very good points. You are right, there are so many factors, thus I believe the difficulty of curing anyone of diseases.

willdob3 · ‎11-01-2010

@151949 wrote:
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.

Obviously, many of the facts about menopause and post menopause are a mystery to you, too.

No one should ever be on Premarin at all.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@ECBG wrote:
There is of course always going to be someone who knows someone who had a problem when you consider the thousands of ladies on this forum. We all have different heredity that figures into this in addition to present health.

I've been on HRT for ten years. My MD interned in the largest office dealing with disease in the one of most prominent medical areas in the nation.

In our conversation several months ago, he told me that it has been discovered that the group taking HRT actually had a lower percentage of cancer.

It's impossible to compare yourself to someone because our physiology is different and the outside factors are numerous.

If I were you I would tell him I need to see those studies.

aubnwa01 · ‎03-09-2010

I had a hysterectomy in 1993 at age 43 for very early stage uterine cancer. I had thought I just had fibroids that were causing my very heavy periods for years & a hysteroscopy & D&C revealed that in addition to the fibroids, I had cancer cells confined to the lining of my uterus that hadn't gone into any muscle walls. During the surgery, the gyno-oncologist found no lymph node involvement or spread of the cancer, so I needed no further treatment or radiation or chemo, removing my uterus got all of it. I'd just need to have exams every few months at the proper intervals until I hit 5 years out & then, I'd go back to annual exams again & I've never had any further issues.

In the few weeks after my surgery I was on no HRT & had a lot of problems with sleeplessness, anxiety, mood swings, etc. & my PCP, bless her, consulted with the gyno-oncologist & said there was no reason not to put me on HRT, since my cancer was very early & with no family history, as long as I had regular exams done, I should be fine. She put me on various types of oral HRT at first, which disagreed with my liver & made me feel bad, so switched me over to a transdermal patch, which settled things down fairly quickly & I started to feel like myself again. Over the years, I gradually reduced the dosage of the patches that I use to where I'm now on the lowest dosage they make & still feel OK. I have over the years, tried to go without it for a few days, just to see what happens & although I don't get hot flashes, I just in general feel better when I'm using it. For me, it's a quality of life issue.

My current PCP/internist (I've since moved to another state) questioned if it was wise to still be on the patch after all this time & this past spring had me go to see a well respected gyno who specializes in menopausal issues in the area. The gyno told me after looking at my medical records that I'm the ideal candidate for the low dose HRT patch, even at this age, because my heart disease & cancer risk is actually lower than it would be without it & my bone density is outstanding. I just need to make sure I keep up with my annual exams & mammograms & he wrote me a prescription on the spot for my patches, because my PCP had been nervous about doing it.

ETA: Taking HRT is a decision that a woman should make with her Dr. who knows her personal & family medical history.

Sunshine · ‎03-20-2010

I never thought I'd need Estrogen. Because of Vulvodynia, I've had to apply topical Estrace cream for many years. Without it I'm in agony. I don't know what I'll do if insurance decides not to cover it anymore.

tends2dogs · ‎05-08-2010

@151949 wrote:
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.

@151949 I don't believe that Premarin is bioidentical.

Fear not Brothers and Sisters! I have read THE BOOK..........we win!!!

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@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'm not a physican and I am not an epidemiologist, I don't know what the riks and the science are or even if there is a correlation between cancer and HRT. I do not rely on Google and "the internet" for my healthcare matters. So, I won't say that the doctors were negligent. Also women get cancer whether they are on HRT or not. You certainly don't know if there is correlation for either woman, they don't that either. Having said that, I would not have taken HRT for 20 years. I had my ovaries removed when I was 39, surgical menopause is a !#%#%. You get thrown into menopause suddently and it is awful. HRT was not a choice for me, actually it's not a choice for many women who go through standard menopause. Often the symptoms are crippling and if you have a job and a life and responsibilities and you need sleep and clarity; toughing it out just isn't possible. I took Estrogen for the minimum amount of time, until my body adusted and the symptoms lessened. That was 2-3 years. It was just common sense to me. I did not think that taking HRT for 25 or 30 years made much sense. Since my hysterectomy was a blessing for me, I didn't have the emotional hang up that many women have to deal with. My libido returned, the night sweats and hot flashes diminished so I stopped the HRT.

Scooby Doo · ‎03-14-2010

I have never taken any kind of hormone. Nevertheless, I had BC 12 years ago. My mother and sister also had BC. I think my sister took hormones for hot flashes but my mother did not. So it's not always HRT that causes cancer.

I was tested for the BC gene and I don't have it. Just the luck of the draw. One in eight women will get BC.