Use of HRT with history of breast cancer

I'm 4 weeks post op after a TAH. Am healing well in terms of the incision and pain, but am dying with heat flashes, night sweats, and a headache that started 3 weeks post and has not yet stopped.

My mother is a breast cancer survivor of 30 years (and also my generous caregiver during convalescence). She developed a malignant breast tumor the size of a golf ball 6 months after starting estrogen supplementation. I am doing nothing at this time for HRT, and feel that taking estrogen would be like putting a loaded gun to my head. Are there any sisters out there with close family history of breast cancer with words of wisdom? I'm 45, the exact age my mother was when she was diagnosed with breast cancer (she is also a hyster sister), and need relief. My ob/gyn seems to think I should do HRT and that 'risks are minimal'. Wonder what he would say if it were HIS mother and his wife.:confuse:

Kooky, this is a great question to post in both the Hormone Jungle and the No-Hormone Desert Oasis. Those ladies over there will definitely be able to help you. They have a wealth of information concerning your particular situation. I understand why you chose not to go on HRT but those ladies may have some other things you can do to relieve your symptoms. But most especially you must call your doctor and let him know how you are feeling. He is the best person to ask any questions you have. Take care and good luck to you.


Emily s

Hi, just wanted to give you a link to articles that may be helpful http://www.hormonejungle.com/breastc1.php and http://www.hormonejungle.com/breastrisk.php You can find more information at www.hormonejungle.com It is a hard decision to make.

Hi Kookyukie! I had my TAH on 12/13/01 due to a cystic mass on my left ovary. Since I had uterine fibroids that caused me to get anemic with each period and the fact that my grandmother died back in 1940 of ovarian cancer, I decided to have everything removed to avoid repeat surgeries. I am 47 years old and have never had children. I guess that is why I, also, have excessive cysts in each breast, for which I have routine mammograms and ultrasound performed every 6 months. I have had a biopsy on each breast in 1997, core biopsies on both in 2000 and far too many aspirations for me to count over the years. I have been fortunate to have benign test results each time. Two of my mother's sisters had breast cancer among other health issues whe they both died at age 75. So my doctors are all concerned. I am on Vitamin E 1200 i.e. as recommended by my radiologist. And Salmon Oil capsules-1000 mg which seems to help as well. My surgeon started me on Premarin 0.625 mg on 12/15/01, the day I was leaving the hospital, because she felt I needed to get eased into menopause. Prior to my hysterectomy, my radiologist insisted that I needed to be placed on HRT to ease me into menopause and to protect my heart & bones. He has asked me to return for additional ultrasound & mammograms to check what effects the HRT has on my breasts after being on Premarin for 6 months. I felt fine from the time I came home from the hospital and didn't experience any of the menopausal symptoms until about three weeks after my surgery. It was during one of my first outings, shopping in a store. Suddenly, while waiting in a long line at a K-Mart, I began boiling over. I thought I had been standing under a heat duct and that I had overdressed for the weather. It got so bad that I had to put the items back and leave the store without making my purchase. This happened over and over again in the stores or while driving together with my boyfriend in the car. Since I had read about the benefits of soy, I sweated it out one day at my local Osco and found a health product called "HEAT FLASH" made by Products of Nature. Among the ingredients are: Soy, black cohosh root extract, dong quai root extract, licorice root extract, vitex berry extract, calcium & iron and they recommend that 3 capsules be taken daily. I have only needed to take 1 capsule a day together with my Premarin as the hot flashes have become few and far between after 2 days of my taking the HEAT FLASH capsules. I intend to ask my doctor/surgeon if I can try switching over to a larger dosage of HEAT FLASH and use alternate over-the-counter health products to deal with menopause so that I can get off the Premarin as I don't want to have further worries with my breast health. Check with your doctor and see if he/she recommends you trying something over-the-counter. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

Kookyukie,

I had the same concerns also!! There is history of breast cancer and heart disease in my family, so I opted to do without the HRT's. ( btw, I am 45 also ). Sometimes I think the Dr.s tend to push HRT's too early -- some ladies can do without them just fine; but at least it should be your choice -- don't be pushed to start them. I do just fine -- taking nothing other than vit.s ( I am pro - soy and do think it is beneficial for me ).
Good luck !!

Jubilee -- TAH/BSO 8/21/01 for cervical crsinoma insitu, huge fibroids, and endo.

Have also been through the same decision making process - my mother had breast ca when she was pre menopausal which puts me in a high risk group.

Although it is a personal decision I discussed my options with both my gyn and a surgeon who specialises in breast cancer. Both felt I could safely take ERT as the dose is probably lower than the estrogens I would have been normally have on board. (However I am 51 and was already perimenopausal pre op). The main thing I was told was to keep the dose the lowest possible to control the symptoms and not to plan on staying on replacement for ever - that I should taper off after about five years.

Am still going through big time night sweats in the post op period and am experimenting with the right dose of ERT. I will continue to be closely monitored by a surgeon for breast ca - in my case I feel the benefits of ERT are greater than the theoretical risks.

Good luck in your decision making, it really is an individual thing.

Debbie
TAH/BSO 3/22/2002

Dear Sisters:
Thank you for your thoughts and personal opinions. I have struggled also with fibrocystic breast disease, many many aspirations, but the struggle with the heat flashes/day sweats is equally debilitating.
Also thanks for the Heat Flash recommendation. I'll pursue that also and see how I make out. Have 5 week post op Tuesday and will see what gentle doc has to say.

Hugs to all!
Chris