AIBU to feel annoyed at being told to stop HRT immediately?

[Heresave36]

I had a mammogram this morning for a large lump on top of my right breast. I’ve had fibrous tissue there before and the mammogram previously came back with nothing to worry about. However, today I ended up having to have an ultrasound and then a biopsy. There was nothing positive about the tone of the consultant and I have a follow up appointment for the results next week.

Coincidentally I had a GP appointment this afternoon for a HRT check, I’ve had too many repeat prescriptions so I has to have a review. Because of the biopsy I was told by the GP to come off HRT today, no tapering just cold turkey.

After the events of the mammogram this morning, I really don’t want to stop HRT today and have to deal with the unknown consequences. If the biopsy reveals that it is cancer, then a week more of HRT won’t cause any more damage. It’s only nine days and it’s one more thing to deal with.

I feel as though I’m unreasonably annoyed at my GP for giving me one for thing to worry about.

I understand and YANBU in a sense. At the same time, YABU your GP is trying to help. It sounds like you have a suspicious lump that could be linked to hormones. I had the same. I was younger then so not on HRT, but on the pill. I stopped it that day. I can't go on HRT now even if I wanted because of that hormone related cancer. So although annoying, it could save your life.

The GP would be really irresponsible to give you a prescription when you are under investigation when oestrogen can cause cancer to grow, although I understand your concerns and frustration.

I hope the result come through quickly and you get the all clear so you can restart.

Thank you both.

@Northermcharn. I’m sorry you went through that. I hope everything is ok now. I think mine is linked to hormones too. The lump increased in size after I increased my HRT dose. I’ve never been on any other hormone treatment.

@YoullWishYourLifeAway I know you’re right. I suppose I’m looking for distraction to be annoyed by. I’ll know by the end of next week which is rather quick really.

I feel as though I’m unreasonably annoyed...

And you're right.

But it makes voting difficult -
YANBU to be unreasonably annoyed
YABU to be annoyed

It’s unreasonable to be annoyed at the Gp giving you the textbook advice.

It’s not unreasonable to be annoyed that someone didn’t mention this sooner.

It’s not unreasonable to be annoyed at the situation as a whole.

It’s not unreasonable to take the GPs advice on board alongside your own view of risk and balancing challenges in life and decide to taper in some way or carry on for an extra week with any medication you’ve still got

YABU. If they said to continue taking it and it caused the cancer to grow you’d be suing for negligence

In the kindest way if it is cancer and you have continued taking it you’ll always wonder if it made it worse. I hope you get the all clear but why take the risk

@ScaryM0nster I think I was expecting reassurance from my GP but what actually happened was the opposite. You just want someone to tell you that it will be ok and it’s probably nothing. It was the same GP who made the referral for the mammogram which sort of makes it worse.

@CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone I should vote for myself

Thank you everyone. I don’t really want to tell anyone at home about this. Shouting it to the internet has been helpful. I’ve been moaning for months about turning 50 soon. I’m annoyed at myself and terrified in equal measure.

They have put to bed the myth hrt causes breast cancer many years ago but unfortunately a lot of gps still haven’t read the research

I don’t think the doctor is saying that HRT causes the cancer. But some breast cancers are hormone fed. In fact, some women even have to be put into premature menopause.

I don't think that's true, actually.

What bit isnt true?

The bit about it being a myth that HRT causes breast cancer. The risk may be small, but still it increases the risk of breast cancer.

It would be unwise to keep taking it, after an ultrasound and no reassurance from that, and a request for a followup appointment with a consultant.

@Nearly50omgas the majority of breast cancers are hormone fed you cannot add more in to the mix by adding HRT. I’m on eostrogen blockers for the next 10 years to prevent a recurrence as are many others.
HRT may not directly cause breast cancer but you certainly shouldn’t take it if you have any chance of having a hormone fed cancer

I am not expert on breast cancers but I do know there are a bunch of misconceptions around HRT and risks. There's a book called Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris which may be worth looking at. They've done podcasts too.
Ultimately it's your decision. Personally I'd factor in how quickly they are due to come back to you because if it's in a couple of days, I'd probably wait and see what the results say.

Are you of menopause age? If so how on earth do you cope with the symptoms?
It must be rough for you x

This came out today, haven’t listened myself yet but might be useful: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-dr-louise-newson-podcast/id1459614845?i=1000766560464

@Lugolim 49 now, I was 47 when diagnosed and didn’t have any menopause symptoms but chemo stopped my period. As far as I know I’m cancer free now. I do get hot flashes and a lot of anxiety but it’s better than cancer or the treatments I went through! Xx

That’s a misleading comment.

HRT is avoided as it affects the recurrence of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancers (ie 70 to 80% of breast cancers). NICE guidelines say to avoid it except in exceptional circumstances.

If menopause symptoms are very seriously impacting quality of life, a recent paper suggests doctors help their patients make an informed risk/benefit decision. The paper did also recommend that these women on HRT after breast cancer should be enrolled on a clinical trial to gather long-term data on outcomes including recurrence, mortality and quality of life.

In your case a decision about HRT couldn’t be made until more is known about the lump OP, even if you have serious menopausal symptoms. Your GP would be negligent to prescribe at this stage imho.
Hope everything works out okay.

https://ecancer.org/en/news/27104-experts-call-for-change-of-heart-on-hormone-replacement-therapy-after-breast-cancer

The question was not directed to me but as someone who came off HRT for various reasons , I coped with my main symptoms using other means

Itchy skin - topical creams
Rage & Anxiety (my main symptoms) - Meditation, Yoga, Breathing and general self care.
Overheating and sweating - cotton pjs , nice cool bedding
Joint pain - Ancient and Brave collagen

Luckily my sleep has always been good.

I find that if I look after myself, I can cope ok.

Slightly different scenario but I had to stop my hrt suddenly after surgery for a fibroid which was estrogen fed but they needed to test it as it looked peculiar and was growing too fast.

It was ok. I think maybe the symptoms were about two weeks after stopping so you might be back on it before much happens?

(Apart from my labia which changed overnight about 5 days later)

I hope you are ok.

@Nearly50omg I have to say that I think the myths around HRT now are nearly as dangerous as the myths before. It’s like a full pendulum swing.

Like any medication, HRT has upsides and downsides but the idea that it doesn’t impact hormone driven cancers at all is extremely dangerous. Of course it does.

Smoking, being very overweight and drinking alcohol will have an overall higher impact on anyone’s likelihood to get breast cancer. But HRT is in there, as is the pill.

I hate this narrative that we can’t survive without it and that any critical thinking around HRT is just shot down.

It can be lifesaving and transformative for many women and no one should be scared to take it, but we should be able to discuss and evaluate the risk/rewards.

Similar scenario, ultrasound, biopsy and MRI for a lump in the breast - turned out to be nothing (crossed fingers for you) but it was recommended I came off HRT as it was making it difficult to see what was going on. I was really annoyed and worried and was anticipating all the worst symptoms coming back. They didn't, I was OK and it's been OK without it (I'd rather be on it - but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I anticipated coming off it).

Good luck - I'm glad you are going to hear soon. Raging into the internet is completely reasonable behaviour.

Edited to add - afterwards they did say I could go back on it I was really struggling - or they'd do a risk based approach. But I was OK so didn't end up having that conversation. I do still use vaginal oestrogen.

Veozah may be an option for treating hot flushes for those with recovering from or concerned about breast cancer.

@Gardenquestion22

Thank you so much. It’s what I came here for. I just wanted someone to tell me it would be ok and it’s probably nothing, so thanks for that.

I only went on HRT to avoid any further symptoms when what I had was really mild - brain fog, mood swings and trouble sleeping. It’s just the timing and the unknown of coming off ot after two years on it.