Private doctor willing to prescribe HRT to someone in remission from breast cancer

[Helpneededdeserately]

Can anyone recommend a private doctor who is willing to prescribe HRT (bioidentical progesterone) to women in remission from breast cancer? I had a hormone negative cancer and have consulted various experts who say this is usually considered safe and that there is actually some evidence that progesterone actually reduces the risk of recurrence for women who've had my type of cancer. My NHS trust apparently has a blanket ban on HRT after breast cancer even if my oncologist personally thinks it is likely to be beneficial.

Can the consultant you're with at the moment recommend anyone? My Gynae Consultant who carried out my hysterectomy has passed my details onto a colleague of his for similar circumstances.

I ended up with a mirena rather than oral progesterone and I’ve found it far better. Is that a route you could progress with your GP?

They didn't know of anyone. Are you able to share the name of your doctor? The one that might be able to help?

Try some of the drs on the Newson Health site or some from Hormone Health (London - based in Wellbeck St, led by Prof Nick Panay- not sure if he personally is taking on new patients and he did have a long waiting list anyway.)
He used to run the meno clinic in an NHS hospital for 'complex' cases like yours.

Check their websites but most do video consultations nowadays.

It sounds like it releases a really low amount of progesterone though. I was on about 400 of whatever the unit was. Find it all so confusing!

I doubt the Mirena would be your best solution because it's a synthetic progesterone and that is the type associated with BC (in women on HRT.)
You'd have to go with micronised progesterone.

Where do you live?
You can access a list of specialists on the British Menopause Society website and also if you do some research on the main private hospitals in central London, where many specialists (gynaecologists) see patients. You need to read their bios as some do specify working with women like you.

I'm in Ni which likely won't be much good to you, sorry.

The thing is is that it's not actually for the menopause. It was to help me get off another drug that was disabling me but that I couldn't sleep without (so disabled without it too). The Nice guidelines don't seem to deal with cases like mine.

I'm not clear what you want to access.
Are you asking for 'only' micronised progesterone which has sedative side effects?

When you said HRT it read as if you wanted estrogen +micronised progesterone. Have I misunderstood?

Micronised progesterone has been around for decades but was used mainly for fertility (and still is, to prevent miscarriage, AFAIK.)

On its own, micronised progesterone is not 'HRT'. It's one part of HRT for women who have a uterus.

I'm sorry if you know this and I'm confused!

It's only relatively recently that it's become more popular as part of HRT (ie the last 10 years or so.)

If you're wanting it to offset the side effects of another drug you're on, I'm not sure if you need a menopause specialist, but without knowing what you're on, what it's doing to you and want to get off, hard to say.

and have consulted various experts who say this is usually considered safe and that there is actually some evidence that progesterone actually reduces the risk of recurrence for women who've had my type of cancer.

Can't they prescribe it for you?

I hope you find some answers.

Ah, sorry - yes I just want bioidentical progesterons, no estrogen needed. I just thought all hormones were considered HRT. It's so I can stay off another drug that was disabling me when I was taking it but to a lesser extent than the level of disability I would have if I didn't take it iyswim.

The experts were either abroad so unable to prescribe for me or NHS staff who thought it would be beneficial for me but are not allowed to prescribe it. It's a living nightmare trying to get healthcare in this country.

How does the drug disable you?

I think you may find it hard persuading a consultant in menopause to give you just micronised progesterone unless it's for something connected with gynaecology. Hard to say without knowing what you want it for.

I appreciate you may not want to add detail.

I couldn’t tolerate oral progesterone so ended up with a mirena coil, is that an option?