To be fed up with the mixed messages about HRT

[Cinammoncake]

Today's being that compounded HRT (ebHRT) is unsafe. It's not surprising that women are reluctant to go on HRT. I feel like one minute you're told no it's fine go on it, then things like this which cast doubt.

Life carries risks . It’s all about an individual weighing up the risks pros and cons and deciding for themselves . Smoking and being fat are the biggest causes of cancer .

I saw a report on BBC Breakfast today that the risk of having Breast Cancer after ceasing combined HRT goes on for 10 years, rather than 4 years as previously thought.

A doctor on the programme later talked of the slight increased risk of BC for those on combined HRT. One thing I noted she said is that obesity is a much greater risk for BC.

I was on combined HRT for 3 years prior to having my first mammogram where an early stage BC was discovered. I had surgery (WLE) followed by radiotherapy. As soon as it was discovered I was told to stop my HRT. After surgery I received results which said the cancer cells had tested positive for Oestrogen and strongly positive for Progesterone.

Obviously the NHS are never going to say the cancer was caused by the HRT but I was told not to go back on it so I would assume it is likely HRT did cause mine.(Good job I hit 50 and had the mammo as I had no symptoms).

It would be more assuring for us to receive a definitive answer as to whether HRT can cause BC but I doubt that will ever be forthcoming.

"Smoking and being fat are the biggest causes of cancer."
I was told by my Oncologist and Breast Cancer Care Nurses that alcohol is a particular risk for Breast Cancer.

Smoking and being obese are causes of cancer generally but yes alcohol is more specific for breast cancer .

One of the problems for me is that experts seem to say women can assess the risk themselves. Well can we? we're getting a scare, then no it's okay, not it's not, no it's okay, no it's not.

I'd rather not take the risk I think.

I won't stop taking HRT. I have been on it for a long time ( like 12 years) and had to come off it for 7 months while having treatment for cancer and it was awful revisiting all the dreadful symptoms. I have had to fight to keep in it but I feel I can't risk Being unable to function again ( which was the menopause for me) as I have a very difficult life and I need to be able to cope day to day. Before I started taking it I had a very thorough research and discussed it with many medics and decided for me it was best choice. My risk of breast cancer has increased slightly with the type of cancer I survived but I would rather take the risk

I confess to not reading every single post , there is a lot of misinformation. The study did not say you are twice as lightly to get breast cancer. Using statistics in a certain way, as journalists do, sometimes because the studies present the info in certain ways, makes for headlines but not common sense. One of the authors was on the radio this morning, It was thought 5 in 100 cases of breast cancer may be connected to HRT and now ot may be 8. This study was of a conbination of oestrogen and progesterone. Women who have had a hysterectomy are offered only oestrogen. The progesterone is added to women with a uterus as it is believed to protect against uterine cancer. The author does not say that women should not take it, but that they should carefully discuss the pros and cons with a doctor, and have as much real information, not nedia claptrap. To those who are blaming Brexit for any possible shotages, plases go away and talk rubbish somewhere else. ALL medication comes with some risks. When you know what they are you can make an informed choice

Cinnamon, if you have a real need for HRT you will consider it, and talk it through with someone who knows, if 8 cancers might have had a connection, then 92 did not, or if the figures are for users of HRT rather than cancer cases, I am unsure which it is, then it would be 92 users out of 100 did not get cancer,.you see figures can be very misleading. Talking about likelihood in figures does not help the individual

@idont want to talk, sorry you have suffered from breast cancer. Apart from the message your team gave not to go back on HRT you would need to have a bigger conversation with them. I would not assume that HRT had caused it from this. Some breast cancers are "fed" by oestrogen so however you came to get the cancer, having had it you would not want to take oestrogen

It is so difficult I also had HRT it wears great felt like my old self again and was on it about three years when I was diagnosed with breast cancer no family history not overweight and not a drinker so what do you blame it on . Found through routine mammagram stopped hrt straight away chemo surgery and radio on estrogen suppressants .
I do regret taking it although it really helped the menopausal symptoms my breast surgeon advised me that the hrt was certainly feeding the cancer
Only thing I can see is make sure you have regular mammagram and checks three years is too long to wait

Drugs are not risk free. It's not a case of 'women shouldn't have to shut up and put up or take risks with their health' as PP said. What other alternatives do people expect. There is NO risk free alternative to normal menopause. It doesn't exist. Drs can't magic it up because people don't want risk. And that risk is a personal choice - you need to be made aware of the risk and choose. The Dr can't make that choice for you. And the information DOES keep changing. More studies are done more information becomes available. No one was hiding that information prior to that study. It isn't black and white, it never will be. It makes me sad that the assumption of so many people is that they are being denied information or some magic risk free treatment, rather than Drs are (On the whole , I accept there are crap ones) are giving you the best advice they have available to them at that time.

I do think overall more needs to be done in terms of looking into the menopause, and looking out for womens welfare. For instance, more training for GPs, dedicated nurses and clinics, and so on.

aussiegonewrong thanks for sharing your story. I've heard a few like this anecdotally and that's what puts me off.

I virtually never drink and am not overweight, so saying it's an equiavalent risk to this isn't convincing, as it's a risk I wouldn't take.But I am suffering from perimenopausal symptoms, which can be pretty difficult to live with. It is hard when the evidence keeps changing. I don't think this is the same with many medications tbh.

This is new research that has just been published, its not mixed messages, this information has just been discovered.

True drugs are not risk free but I definitely got plenty of reassurance from gp and a menopause specialist that it was ok to take as I was not in the high risk category but it's such a common disease one in eight of us will get it and why would you want to put yourself in a higher risk category
I would take the menopausal symptoms anyway over the breast cancer treatment and the fear that goes along with the diagnosis
I am out the other side now but I do have to thank my gp for making me have more frequent mammagram s as mine was diagnosed 15 months after a Clear one and I did pay for a private one

I'm glad you're out the other side aussie

sunbeam there are constant conflicting messages over HRT. I'm sure I'm not the only woman to have felt it's being pushed on you and you're bad not to take it (even having read the menopause forum here) and yet, then there's stuff coming out saying it increases your risk of breast cancer. Even when I started the thread. It was no, that's just a specific type. Then today, no actually it's all HRT but it's not that much risk.

Cinnamon
It is the same with other medications, for example, diclofenac (the painkiller in Volterol gel) used to be available as an OTC tablet until 2015 when it became studies showed it increased risk of cardiovascular problems in some patients (tablets not the gel).
GPS were told to switch some patients off the medication at their next appointment.

Thanks chazs
I think one of the concerns is to be told well, women have to make that judgement for themselves. It's a tough one. GPs seem to be really pro HRT or anti it. I don't think there's time or space for women to discuss it properly and their own individual circumstances etc.

Having had a breast cancer scare I think that's definitely a factor which would put me off. But then there's no other help or guidance out there from the GP or GP practice.

I'm on HRT (oestrogen patch and progesterone pill) and I'm worried about the study. My sister developed BC in her early 50s - no other risk factors. My symptoms in peri-menopause were absolutely dreadful, I was sure it was becoming unsafe for me to drive given the sleepless nights, hot flashes etc, but we live in a rural area with little public transport so my dcs are quite reliant on lifts etc. I am now in a quandary - I'd like to dismiss the study's findings but am very uneasy. Anyone thinking of stopping HRT?

Part of the reason there's a shortage of HRT is because less people are taking it, therefore stock supplies are less than they used to be. Heard a doctor saying this on the radio. Also with regard to alcohol, I have had breast cancer and have been tee total for years. Never taken hrt either.

That was meant to say had been tee total for years before getting breast cancer.

Did you find a big improvement in symptoms from HRT obligations? It does sound difficult, with the driving. I do feel like women are just stuck with these difficult decisions and not many shits are given, in a way that would be imo completely different if men went through this.

That's interesting mamamia hadn't heard that, thanks.

My DD has just started on HRT. I've had breast cancer (twice) my mum and her sister both had breast cancer.

We don't carry the gene which leads to breast and ovarian cancer. DD has had breast screenings every two years since she was 35 or so.

She still decided to go onto HRT at 49 years old. Her reasoning for doing so seem sound to me. She was weepy and not sleeping well at all. Flushes, night sweats etc etc. She is very aware of the risks but has decided that the benefits (protection from cardio vascular disease and osteoporosis) out wheigh the risks.

I agreed with her 100%. Two years ago I declined to take a drug prescribed to me after my last cancer because it made me super anxious. I was told that the drug (letrazone) would help ensure the cancer wouldn't come back.

Maybe it would. But I would have been verging on suicidal within a couple of months.

Nothing in this world is risk free, in my view. All I think we can do is arm ourselves with the best info we can find, and go for it.

I'm my case, I decided that is sooner live for less time, but to enjoy what time I had, rather than live longer in a constant state of anxiety.

I was thinking the same thing as you @fussychica

The headlines from these studies are often misleading although "technically" true, and you have to actual read the original study to get an accurate conclusion. I don't often read the original study, but I do take these articles with a pinch of salt

"I'm my case, I decided that is sooner live for less time, but to enjoy what time I had, rather than live longer in a constant state of anxiety."

I'm the same. When I went on the Pill, years ago, it was considered to be higher risk for cancer. I think it's changed now.

I agree that there's less research into stuff like this because women are supposed to put up with flooding periods etc etc.

I read the study. I'm on conti HRT, a low dose but tablet form. My mother has severe osteoporosis and I'm doing everything to avoid that. I'm a healthy weight, don't drink, don't smoke, careful with what I eat. It's a risk but one I'm prepared to take for quality of life.