Hormone Replacement Therapy

kirsten1

Long story short...haven't posted in a while. Rectal cancer stage III finished with radiation, chemo., surgeries, more chemo. finished in Nov. 2007. I am 34 years old and still have ovaries and uterus. I am going for a bone scan and have recently seen the gyno. who of course suggested/insisted on HRT...I am reluctant for a number of reasons but primarily due to the length of time I would need to take them (cause I plan on living a loooong time!) and because I like to try the homeopathic/natural route if possible... Any suggestions or info. would be greatly appreciated.

pamness

I gatheer your gynecologist suggested HRT because your chemo, etc. threw you into premature menopause. Are you have a really hard time with it? Hot flashes, mood swings, etc. If not, not try the homeopathic/natural route. People who have estrogen sensitive breast cancer are not candidates for HRT and many of them, two of my good friends, have fared just fine using other types of natural, homeopathic type treatments.

Good luck,

Pam

taraHK

This is a controversial issue and a tough decision. I had a similar background (Stage III rectal, chemoradiation then surgery then chemo). I had instant menopause as a result of the radiation, age 44. I consulted with several doctors about HRT, including a GYN with expertise in cancer. I was having some problems with hot flashes, night sweats, etc but of course there was also the issue of bone density and other possible effects of early menopause. I have no risk factors for breast cancer. I decided to do HRT -- for a maximum of 5 yrs (which, apparently, is the time at which some of the possible negative consequences of HRT can kick in). I'm happy with this. However, I totally respect other decisions including natural/homeopathic alternatives. Good luck with your decision.
Tara

Moesimo

I was 46 when I had radiation. My doc did not give me HRT because there was a study done with HRT and so many of the women in the study got breast cancer that the study was aborted. I had alot of night sweats and was put on a low dose of paxil for a couple of years. That seemed to help. Good luck.

Maureen

usakat

Hi Kirsten ~ Have you considered seeing an oncologist gynocologist? An onco/gyno can fully assess your cancer history and analyze benefits vs risks of HRT for you. At the very least, your onc and gyno need to have a chat about your specific case.
Good luck and let us know what you decide.
Katie

markatger

My story sounds very similar to yours. I was 33 when dx'ed in 2005 with stage III rectal cancer. 34 when I finished with everything in 2006. It took me a year to decide to go on HRT. I'm still at times ambivalent about it. I had a naturopath who wanted me to try compounded estrogens that were supposed to try to better match the ratios of different kinds of estrogens in your body, rather than give only estradiol like many major prescribed HRT have. My MD gyno ,who is often rated as a best doctor in Seattle, did not like the compounded estrogens as she thought the dosage was too unreliable and the it didn't matter what kind of estrogen you take that your body converts them all to what is needed. She actually said she wouldn't see me as a patient if I used them! That was kind of a bummer.

But I opted to go the traditional route. My MD Gyno also always repeated the fact that women our age should have estrogen. The studies linking HRT and breast cancer are of course done on older women who are in natural menopause but are taking estrogen when their body should not be receiving it.
I've been on HRT for a year. I'm at the maximum Vivelle Dot dose. But my estrogen is still below normal for what it should be for someone my age. I'm also on prometrium - which is necessary because I still have my uterus and ovaries too.

I sometimes go to this site :
http://www.earlymenopause.com/
lots of info and a forum

Please feel free to e-mail me if you want to discuss more
Best of luck with your decision!
Maria