Gutted re Breast Cancer and HRT

[JumbleAndKitchen]

I have breast cancer. Low grade, non-invasive, stage zero DCIS. Lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy.

Just got the dx letter that consultant sent to GP. My bc is estrogen positive, which I knew, but just seen that I’ve got a score of 8/8 for prevalence of estrogen receptors. That’s the highest score.

Im just devastated that info has completely put the kaibosh on restarting HRT. I know so many people would think I’m mad for even considering it, but I’ve just been clinging onto the possibility.

I’m mid 40s. I had early menopause at 32. Ten awful, awful years before I started HRT. It changed my life. I stopped taking it a year ago as I was having loads of health anxiety. It’s just been so miserable since. The pain, the fatigue, the awful, awful insomnia. The leg aches. My complete inability to manage stress, my crushing loss of confidence. HRT changed everything for me. All the way through investigation, dx and treatment, I’ve just been hoping and hoping that there may be a world in which I could go back on HRT. I guess not.

I had oestrogen positive breast cancer and had to stop taking HRT. I'd had a fight to get on it, then had to stop a few months later when i was diagnosed. Sounds daft but in a way I was more upset about the HRT than the cancer. I've come to terms with it mostly now - been prescribed sertraline for anxiety which has helped massively, but not like HRT did. I don't have a clue about how they risk assess cancer/HRT. Does your cancer service offer any menopause support or therapy? Won't fix things, but will give you the opportunity to share how crap you're feeling.

You poor woman. What a hand you have been dealt.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer about 15 years ago. I was told at the time that I’d not be able to take HRT.

BUT

NICE guidelines say that any women with breast cancer can see a hospital doctor at the menopause clinic. Please ask your nurse or doctor to sort that for you. Things have changed. Research has shown that certain types of HRT are fine for women with estrogen positive breast cancer like us. I’ve had a double mastectomy so was told I’ve less risk than a woman who hasn’t had cancer but has both breasts.

I have been on HRT at a London teaching hospital for two years. I am monitored by the women’s team - menopause and breast.

All the best with your journey.

I feel your distress, when hrt helps in so so so many ways, how cruel.