HRT linked to cancer? Doc says no

Hi ladies,
I thought I had read and heard that HRT is linked to breast cancer. My doc is telling me that my own ovaries are pumping more estrogen into my body than HRT ever could and therefore I stand a better chance of getting breast cancer by keeping my ovaries than if I were to have them out and start HRT. Does this ring true with what your doc has told you? My mother passed away from breast cancer at age 50, I'm 48 and concerned.

Hi Loracann Well, according to the WHI study data, once they were properly analyzed, it appears that the Provera component of the combination HRT Prempro is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer rates. However, women on estrogen-only HRT had no increase in breast cancer rates; in addition, those women in the study who got breast cancer and were on HRT had much better survival rates than women who were not on HRT and got breast cancer. So, despite a history of breast cancer myself, I'll take my chances on estrogen-only HRT, which also protects my bones and cardiovascular system. My DR agrees.

And, yes, your ovaries made more estrogen than you get in HRT. In addition, while the types of estrogen we use in HRTs do not cause breast cancer, there is a metabolite of the weak estrogen called estrone which can cause tumors (at least in rats). Menopausal women who have their ovaries tend to make more estrone; therefore, their breast cancer rates are higher than women without ovaries (on HRT or not).

I hope this helps!

s,
-Linda

Hi Loracann

I'm 11 hours out of post-op and but already have decided to take Estrogen ONLY HRT because like Linda I am willing to take the risk. I will start Estrace once I receive my pathology results.

bam1011
LAVH 8/9/10