Uterine Cancer & HRT

Hi there all. I have been reading many of the posts in this area "Cancer" threads. One question seems to come to mind. If you have been diagnosed with Uterine cancer, why will the doctors not give you hormones, especially if the cancer was caught early enough? I see my doctor this friday, May 18th, and I am going to ask him, but I was just wondering what everyone else has heard, or even know. Granted I know that HRT can lead to other cancers, but I am still curious.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Jisharp If you have been diagnosed with Uterine cancer, why will the doctors not give you hormones, especially if the cancer was caught early enough?

Uterine cancer is often estrogen driven. UC is believed to develop in some women because of too much estrogen such as the case in ladies who started their period early in life or go into menopause late, or who are overweight. (The last reason being that the body makes estrogen in some of its fatty tissue.)

Tests on the original cancer tumor can be done to determine if the tumor was ER / PR positive or negative. ER- estrogen responsive PR - progesterone responsive.

HRT. Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, or both) might "feed" any cancer cells left behind.

Some doctors may give a topical cream for the vagina if a person is two years out from surgery / treatment and remains cancer free. Others will not. It depends upon the individual.

The above is my lay-person understanding. Check with your doctor Friday for the medical reason(s) that apply to you.

s,
Kate

Hi Joyce,
Kate already covered well the reasons estrogen use often is prohibited if someone has had endometiral cancer.
Re prescribing estrogen or HRT: some doctors, on an individual cases bases and consideration of such factors as age, medical history, those items already cited; etc., may recommend HRT after a reasonable number of years of non-recurrence. In fact some doctors may evem recommend HRT in patients with a family history of heart disease.
Wishing you continued good healing.
s

Hey Jisharp,

Speak with your doc about this on your next appointment. There are many factors to consider and he/she can explain why or why not HRT can or cannot be considered for you.

I've been on low-dose Premarin since 9/06. This manages my awful symptoms very well.

Good luck on that check-up! Mine is tomorrow.

Hugs,
Pearl