hormone replacement and breast cancer

s plenty of confusion about hormone replacement therapy, which is now commonly called hormone therapy. The truth is that hormone therapy is not a magical cure , but it's still the most effective treatment for unpleasant menopausal symptoms for most women. Estrogen remains the most effective treatment for relief of troublesome menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. It can also ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.

however had a complete hysterectomy at 21 and have been on hormone replacement. I know that the early hysterectomy has caused my bone issues(been on Fosamax and actually just started Reclast this week -2.7) but I wonder if it is effecting the breast? I went in for my annual mamo last week and have been called back yet again. New spot directly under the nipple, same breast. Sheduled US for next week. So two mamos and 2 call backs...I am nervous..

Im reading a lot of advice against the use of hormone replacement therapy, but the studies I have researched report that its the combination of progesterone and estrogen that is bad for you, and that estrogen alone may actually decrease the risk of breast cancer. My question then is has anybody else read any studies similar?

I am 54 years old and 3 years ago,diagnosed with LCIS. I am in good health and have a 1st cousin with DCIS. So far I have had one surgery to remove the inital finding but since than SLOAN has been following me very carefullly. I go every 3 months, mri, mamo, office visit, manual exam, so i go year round. They have tried to put me on Tamoxifen but my leg muscles tightened up and were very painful so they made me stop. Is there any other meds that i can take that would reduce my risk?

I had a bilateral mastectomy from having DCIS, from strong family history of breast cancer. I recently just went through bilateral oophorectomy and tubes removed. I was told by the nurse at the hospital, that my doc will probably prescribe hormone replacement therepy. Is this safe, even though I no longer have overies, or breast? Is estrogen replacement the best therepy?

I am 26 years old, and I have been on hormone replacement since my hysterectomy a year and a half ago. I just recently started having chest pains on the left side on the top of my breast. I also have a lot of little lumps in both breasts. My left breast has a hard area where it feel stiff and lumpy. My breast also appear to be getting swolen and sort of mishaped. Is this something to be alarmed about?

I think pretty much every woman will get to a place at some point where they wonder if they should try hormone replacement therapy. Mixed information about it. Do you use it and what for? Worries about using it? Let's tlk about it.

Thank you for your responses. It is comforting knowing that I'm not alone with this yet I am also sad that others have to make these hard decisions too! Jr1971, it seems to me that my doctor said the very same thing and that is what is confusing about the news. From what I get out of it is that the study only looks at women who have gone through natural menopause and not surgical menopause. I can see where taking something that your body is naturally not producing anymore is not good.

We would recommend against any form of hormone replacement therapy in women with hormone receptor positive cancer. Bioidentical or synthetic, it is still hormone therapy. In fact, the purpose of arimidex is to remove any estrogen that may be produced outside the ovaries. Research has shown that this significantly reduces the risk of recurrence.

I have hot flashes all day. am jumpy and nervous and feel like I weigh 1000 pounds. What should I do now? I am 74 and only have social security and my medical insurance. I know there must be an answer somewhere. I am reading Suzanne Sommers books and it seems pretty clear to me there are other options than the old hormone treatment. Any suggestions?

Same problem as when I take hormone replacement (makes my right upper side hurt).

It was explained to me that the use and/or the non-use of hormone replacement... whether of the pharmaceutical or herbal variety... does not create these calcifications.

Hi I read your last post and it asked about hormone replacement therapy , this is a different thing from hormone blocker pills as hormone replacement is just what it says it replaces the hormones lost after menopause and I believe that blockers are used to treat women that have hormone dependant cancers in that they block the hormones made in the body that feed the cancer .

Cysts are quite common and often occur with hormonal variation (including menstruation and hormone replacement therapy). Of course, lumpy breast tissue can also swell as a result of hormonal variation. If you are concerned, you should see your doctor for evaluation and he/she can order an ultrasound, if appropriate. Also, just so you are aware, “natural” hormone replacement has the same risks of estrogen exposure as “clinical” HRT. Estrogen is estrogen, whether it is from soy or the lab.

Hello, After hysterectomy, hormone replacement therapy would consist of estrogen alone usually given daily by pill or sometimes weekly or biweekly skin patch.However hormonal replacement therapy should be given for a short time only as long term use may be associated with a small increase in breast cancer. In my opinion you should consult a gynecologist and start with hormone replacemenr therapy.

This post is quite old and Dennis, MD no longer is on the forum. In the future it would be best if you would post your question as a new post as we rarely read comments. Biopsy is recommended when a cluster of microcalcifications appears susupicious on the film. These calcifications occur scattered about in the breast tissue but when they are observed in certain patterns they do raise suspicion and require biopsy.

It is my understanding that amicronized progesterone is associated with fewer issues (breast cancer and cardiovascular) but I think they are generally talking about those who take it for hormone replacement verses fertility. Did you ever get an answer from your doctor? what did you decide to do?

Hormone Replacement Therapy has been proven to increase the incidence of breast cancer and since your cancer was ER+ and you had medication to block the production of the hormone I wouldn't think you would be prescribed HRT now. Keep in mind that the ovaries produce the Estrogen ... not the Uterus. Your sister's cancer would not be related in any way to your cancer ... the fact that one was ER+ and one was not has no bearing on the situation.

s Health Initiative trial that found postmenopausal women using hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progestin) had a greater risk of breast cancer than women taking a placebo. In the new study, researchers found that in mammograms done a year apart, breast density went up for 85% of the women in the replacement group, and this increase in density could explain the increased cancer risk in that group.

Breasts pain can get worse with changes in your hormone levels or changes in the medicines you are perhaps taking,particularly if you are receiving HRT (hormone replacement therapy).Stress can also affect breast pain. As a rule,women who are 40yrs old,should have regular mammograms or other test that the doctor may recommend.So, please make an appointment with your doctor(preferably a Breast Specialist) for a clinical breasts exam. Take care and best wishes...

Hormone replacement and breast cancer

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