Hormones after hysterectomy

kale1972
kale1972 Member Posts: 36
in Ovarian Cancer #1
So what are you all doing regarding needing hormones after a hysterectomy, but going through chemo and just having cancer in general. How do hormones and the cancer work. I had read up a lot about using bio-identical hormones post-hysterectomy, but now I am wondering how this will effect all the other stuff the body is going through.

Comments

  • Sara2011
    Sara2011 Member Posts: 78 Member
    #2
    Hormones are a No No
    I've been told that I have to stay far away from estrogen following by bout with ovarian cancer and a complete hysterectomy. Ovarian cancer is an estrogen fed cancer, so you can't take hormone replacement. In fact, I've been put on Aromasin to shut down all estrogen production. Have you had a diagnosis of ovarian cancer? or just had a complete hysterectomy. If just the hysterectomy, I had looked into the bio-identical hormones (attended a seminar about it) prior to cancer and liked what I heard. My sister in law takes the bio-identical hormones and has done well on them.
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #3
    THEY'RE A NO-NO FOR ME, TOO
    My doctor started me on Premarin cream after my first dx, surgery and chemo. The CA125 started to rise, and although he lowered the dosage, it didn't change. So, I am not able to take any estrogen enhancing/replacement meds, foods, etc. Bioidentical is exactly the same as the real thing, so they're out of the question, too.

    I often wonder if the Premarin was at least partly responsible for my recurrance. I have a friend who's doctor put her on HRT after her surgery and chemo. She had a recurrance that took her life, it was so complex.

    Too bad we can't take anything to help one of the essential hormones in our bodies. It's not worth the consequences.

    (((HUGS)))
    Monika
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #4
    They were a no for me too.
    They were a no for me too. I was 45 year old when I had my hysterectomy and then chemo, etc. But was advised against any type of hormones. I was diagnosed with edometrial adenocarcinoma, but was treated as ovarian at times.
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #5
    Hormones
    After a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, you will want to avoid anything that even looks like estrogen to the body. Therefore, you need to avoid certain foods (like unfermented soy); beauty products with certain ingredients; and bpa-containing plastics, to name a few.
    You can manage the surgical menopause, however, with a variety of things, such as accupuncture and chinese herbs. Bone loss has been a challenge for me, but I am finally having success with Calcium MCHA. This is different than a simple calcium supplement, which can be beneficial for some women but not others. The Calcium MCHA is said to fill in the entire matrix of the bone, unlike the prescription medications that only fill in part of the matrix and result in brittle bones.
  • Green Leaf
    Green Leaf Member Posts: 24
    #6
    Tethys41 said:

    Hormones
    After a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, you will want to avoid anything that even looks like estrogen to the body. Therefore, you need to avoid certain foods (like unfermented soy); beauty products with certain ingredients; and bpa-containing plastics, to name a few.
    You can manage the surgical menopause, however, with a variety of things, such as accupuncture and chinese herbs. Bone loss has been a challenge for me, but I am finally having success with Calcium MCHA. This is different than a simple calcium supplement, which can be beneficial for some women but not others. The Calcium MCHA is said to fill in the entire matrix of the bone, unlike the prescription medications that only fill in part of the matrix and result in brittle bones.

    Calcium MCHA
    Hi, Tethys41.
    Do you mean this "calcium MCHA" can help with the general menopausal symptoms, such as, night sweats and dry skins, etc.

    Green
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #7
    Green Leaf said:

    Calcium MCHA
    Hi, Tethys41.
    Do you mean this "calcium MCHA" can help with the general menopausal symptoms, such as, night sweats and dry skins, etc.

    Green

    Calcium MCHA
    Green,
    No, the Calcium MCHA only helps with bone loss, which is a common issue after menopause. The accupuncture and Chinese herbs help with the symptoms you describe. :)
  • kimberly sue 63
    kimberly sue 63 Member Posts: 421 Member
    #8
    No hormones is right. I have
    No hormones is right. I have had very little menopausal symptoms, or I just can't distinguish them due to chemo. Before my diagnosis, I would get night sweats on the occasion and would saturate my sheets at night. However, since the diagnosis of OVCA and of course the surgery, I no longer get night sweats. What I do get is flush feeling several times a day. When I feel flush my layers come off and need cool air. However, it lasts 2-3 minutes and then I am cold again. Chemo has made me very cold most of the time even with the heat waves we have been getting in IL this summer.
    Neurontin (Gabapentin) which is used for neuropathy has shown some help with reducing menopausal symptoms. Talk with your doctor about it. Kim
  • ktamp
    ktamp Member Posts: 81
    #9
    No hormones is the general
    No hormones is the general rule of thumb although I do know a woman who was my age (34)and started HRT a year following treatment. The sudden menopause for me was rough after my surgery. Hot flashes all the time. I started effexor (anti depressant) and it has helped with the hot flashes. I think chemo made the menopause symptoms worse. I had hot flashes every day and most nights. But in the past month or so, I've noticed I rarely have them anymore. I think I have made it to the other side of menopause. My gyn onc told me to take calcium and vit d daily and I will have to start weight bearing exercises in a few months to help prevent osteoporosis.

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