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.

YABU but I do understand your frustration with this situation. In your shoes I'd be annoyed too.
Your GP is right not to prescribe HRT for the time being. Hopefully the results will be all clear and you can reinstate your HRT.

This is a medical opinion, you may not like it, but you are not qualified to imply it is the wrong advice. Priobably you have been given far too many repeat prescriptions and you should have been checked long ago- so cold turkey is quite reasonable.

They should have been able to prescribe you vaginal oestrogen which is safe for most breast cancer patients and would address one of the potential problems with stopping systemic HRT. Non-hormonal vaginal moisturisers can be used and ointment style emollients can be used vulvally. (It's worth looking up a vulval care leaflet).

There's some support for using hormonal coils even if you have a breast cancer diagnosis to manage heavy periods. Non-hormonal coils can be used for contraception after a breast cancer diagnosis if that's something you want. I believe endometrial ablation is an another option if you have heavy periods.

There's FSRH guidance on contraception choices for people with breast cancer.

There's various non-hormonal drugs for helping with menopause symptoms - worth having a read and seeing what symptoms happen and discussing with a GP.

But for an extra nine days, I'm with you, even though what the GP is advising makes sense.

If the GP was able to tell you right now 'You have a hormone-receptive breast cancer', would you come off HRT straight away? I think you would. That's why s/he is erring on the side of caution. It probably isn't, but just in case it is, they are giving you the best advice for the worst case scenario.

I had hormone fuelled breast cancer and had to stop HRT. I hated it, it was hard but I didn’t want to die. It was hard.

I would think most GP’s know that HRT doesn’t cause breast cancer but approximately 70% to 80% of all newly diagnosed invasive breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive (HR+), meaning they are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and/or progesterone receptor-positive (PR). I was considering going on HRT when I was 49 but was then diagnosed estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. I thank my lucky stars I never took it as I would have been feeding the cancer. There was no family history of breast cancer either.

All of us that have oestrogen sensitive breast cancer are told that HRT is not appropriate for us, so the previous poster is not unusual in not taking it, but also remember not everyone has the same symptoms.

I'm not voting. I'm just saying I hope you're ok. Take care

In a similar situation (I found a lump, breast clinic did mammogram, physical exam, another mammogram, ultrasound & biopsy - and basically said it was probably cancerous but they needed to wait for the results of the biospy to confirm) I was advised by the breast clinic not to stop the HRT at that point - they said I'd be stressed enough about the whole situation without adding to it by coming off HRT, and it wouldn't make any significant difference for the short time until the results were back.
(I have no idea if that is true, or whether it was the best advice).

Mine was confirmed as hormone positive breast cancer, and I was then advised to stop HRT and get my Mirena coil removed.

I hope your results are good news.

I found a lump, went to my GP & she told me that day to stop my HRT - I was 49 & had been on it for about 5 years. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer - despite the blame which people throw around, I’m not a smoker, drinker, my BMI is 22.5, I exercised, I’ve followed the Zoe diet for the few years/am plant based (no red meat).
I’ve just finished 6 months of chemo, I still have surgery, radiotherapy & another 6 months of immunotherapy to go & then who knows what else!
Even with a non-hormone receptive breast cancer, my oncologist has said I should never go back on HRT. I went into menopause & chemotherapy overnight, it’s tough, the hardest thing I’ve ever been through but we’re stronger than we think. I do recommend you taking a good friend or family member with you when you go for your results, I was on my own when I was told. I hope all goes well for you. ❤️

You should always follow the guidance of your Doctor who is only doing his job and trying to help.
I'm sorry you are going through this. But Id do as your Gp says. Better to be safe and do what you can to help yourself.

It's unreasonable to be annoyed that your GP didn't give you reassurance when they have no more information than you about what the biopsy will show. Sad or scared - reasonable. Annoyed at a doctor doing their job and not lying to you - unreasonable.

@Daffodils88 @Chasingsquirrels
I’m expecting a similar outcome. There was nothing reassuring at all about the appointment and it was a case of a confirming what they suspect. I’m trying not to google outcomes and types but allowed myself ten minutes of doomscrolling survival rates when I couldn’t sleep last night.

In general, I was just frustrated on the day. I asked whether I could have the prescription anyway and would only use it if the tests were clear but that was refused too. It was the same GP I saw about the lump, and there was no suggestion of coming off HRT at that point, even though it was part of the discussion

But just to be clear, I know the GP was giving the best advice, I just felt a bit deflated after everything that had happened that morning. I just wanted something reassuring and there wasn’t anything forthcoming. Also acknowledging that it isn’t necessarily my GP’s job to do that.

I understand. It’s a strange, overwhelming & new experience & you’re wanting the HRT to help anchor you at this time.

Try not to Google or second guess anything at the moment. I misinterpreted something one of the hospital staff said to be on that first day & I spent the following week wrongly thinking something. Each person is different & treatment & patient outcomes have improved considerably in recent years, so what you read on Google won’t be your story.

I’ve found meditation massively helpful in calming the scary thoughts, particularly guided meditations. I also got the hospital oncologists to prescribe me diazepam/sedatives to help with the fear of some of the procedures.

Thinking of you & sending hugs.

It doesn't cause it but can make it grow as the hrt can feed it, hence telling the OP to stop it.

I was in a similar position but at 36 I wasn’t menopausal. Chemo put me into chemical menopause and because I have BRCA2 (found out after my diagnosis) I also had my ovaries removed which led to immediate surgical menopause.
It hasn’t been easy but I take a low dose anti depressant for the hot flushes and was (eventually) prescribed vaginal oestrogen for the discomfort and dryness.
If your lump does turn out to be cancer, ask to be referred to your local menopause clinic and the doctors there can talk you through your options
My experience was 12 years ago now, and treatments for menopausal symptoms are improving all the time.
Good luck, you will get through this!

I was on hrt due to having ovaries removed and came off hrt very slowly and at the end of it bang full on menopause symptoms.

Thank you all for your kind words.

I had a call from the hospital earlier today to say that I didn’t need to come to the hospital tomorrow, as my biopsy showed that the cells were benign. I don’t quite know what to do with myself but I am very very relieved.

Thats amazing!! What a relief for you xx

I went on HRT for the same reason. My symptoms weren't that bad, but everyone was telling me what a life changer it was, and it did help with sleep and focus.

However, I really struggled with the progesterone element and after one particularly bad outburst of rage, stopped cold turkey.

The sweats, which I hadn't had before, were awful, but passed after a few weeks. I'd say the rest of my symptoms are no better or worse than when was on it, but I feel much calmer - more like me, not in a constant sat of "PMS" , so I'm glad I stopped.