Breast cancer history - any alternatives I can use?

[BerryTree1]

I am 41, had breast cancer a few years ago. It was hormone (oestrogen) positive. I went through the menopause fairly painlessly and take regular medication. Letrozole & Zoladex. I am having my ovaries removed next year.

I have gained a stone in weight, mainly around my tummy.
Very easily irritated which is unlike me.
I used to me able to juggle 100 things at the same time, now I struggle to get anything at all done and feel like a failure at work.
Zero libido.

Is there an alternative to HRT?

I have tried to carry on as normal but it's starting to get me down.

Are you under the care of a dr (specialist) to help you through this?

It's a complicated area and you really do need expert help.

When you say you went through the menopause (before age 41) is this a medical menopause brought on by medication for your BC?

Has any dr given you bone-building drugs to prevent bone loss? or discussed it?

I'd advise you start with your GP and get referred to a menopause specialist who is an expert in your circs.

It's best not to dabble with herbs etc as some are contraindicated for BC but there are prescribed meds that can work.

Look at the website of Dr Louise Newson - called Balance- there are fact sheets and videos about alternatives to HRT after BC.

Good luck.

Hi and thank you for taking the e time to reply. I do have an oncologist but I don't have any appointment with her until later this year. I can speak to her then.

I tend to be very positive and have a 'put on a brave face' attitude, so I haven't mentioned this to anyone yet.

My menopause was medically induced. Firstly through chemo and then when my period returned after chemo I started the medication. Before chemo I had a very strong and normally operating body!

I have injections of zoladrinic acid for my bones as they are already weak.

It's so mind boggling, I don't really know where to start with getting help, which is kind of ironic given that's probably why I need help in the first place! I used to be able to do anything, now I seem to get tied up in knots very easily.

I will look into Dr Louise Newson as a starter - thank you.

I wonder if anyone else is also finding themselves in this position?

I’m going through the same thing (currently having chemo) but will later take the drugs. I was very unhappy at the thought of menopause without HRT!

i don’t have the answer for you I’m afraid but I do remember someone on the Davina programme talking about a new drug being developed that was designed for women who have had breast cancer

It is a minefield.

To add to that this article appeared in the Mail (yes, I know!) today about women going onto HRT after BC.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11028529/Giving-HRT-breast-cancer-survivors-does-NOT-raise-risk-reoccurence-myth-busting-study-claims.html

Not saying for a moment that I agree or disagree with what it says, but it's interesting as some BC experts would agree with it (google Prof Michael Baum, for one, who has given HRT to women post BC for decades.) And US Dr Avron Bluming author of Estrogen Matters (whose daughter and wife are on HRT after BC.)

I think it would be a brave woman to try it, but there seems to be an emerging trend to change the current medical advice.

sorry link isn't working (I think I messed up with it ) but you can find the article by searching.

Please ignore that Daily Mail article and Dr Louise's views. Dr Liz O'Riordan is a former breast cancer surgeon and has had it twice herself. She tweets and blogs about this issue a lot
twitter.com/Liz_ORiordan/status/1549660320481910786?t=jNPH4J5GHv-uwcPDHzU0OA&s=19