| As many women begin the transition through | | | | By how much the risk is increased is not exactly clear |
| menopause a lot of consideration goes into the idea | | | | at this point and will likely vary depending on each |
| of taking Hormone Replacements - whether it is just | | | | woman's unique genetic makeup, diet and exposure |
| Estrogen (Estrogen Therapy or ET) or a combination | | | | to various environmental factors. Obviously, the risk |
| of Estrogen and Progesterone (Hormone Therapy or | | | | factor of taking HRT has a much greater impact if |
| HT). For the purpose of this article Hormone | | | | you are already at risk of developing breast cancer. |
| Replacement Therapy (HRT) will refer to both HT | | | | If you fit into any of the categories below - then |
| and ET. | | | | most physicians would probably agree that you |
| Replacing your hormones with either natural or | | | | should avoid HRT. |
| synthetic (laboratory made) forms of hormones may | | | | - If you are a breast cancer survivor: The concern is |
| offer some benefit by helping to reduce many of the | | | | that HRT may stimulate the growth of small or |
| symptoms of early menopause - such as, hot flashes, | | | | hidden tumors, it is nearly impossible to determine |
| insomnia, moodiness, and vaginal dryness. As well as | | | | how many women harbor these hidden cells known |
| more serious problems that may result from | | | | as micrometastases. |
| menopause like weakened bones, and osteoporosis. | | | | - If you have a family history of breast cancer: It is |
| But as with EVERY pharmaceutical product made to | | | | not clear whether women with a family history are |
| help relieve pain or discomfort there are risks, and | | | | at increased risk of developing breast cancer when |
| hormone therapy is not without them. What's | | | | taking HRT and therefore the medical community is |
| important is that your unique health history and risk | | | | cautious about recommending it. |
| factors are discussed with your doctor to best | | | | - If you have a history of: Uterine cancer, Liver |
| determine whether or not HT or ET is the best | | | | disease, Blood clots, Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding or |
| option for you. | | | | Heart disease. |
| Estrogens Impact on the Breast | | | | One major consideration when contemplating HRT |
| What you have to recognize is that the scientific | | | | should be whether or not you are at a higher than |
| community is just beginning to realize the uniqueness | | | | average risk of developing breast cancer. Some other |
| of every woman's hormone profile. The effect of | | | | minor factors that may increase your cancer risk are |
| HRT on one of your female friends may be vastly | | | | weight gain and women who experience menopause |
| different from the effect they have on you. This is | | | | later in life than average. |
| why there is such a large amount of variation in what | | | | HRT - A Personal Decision |
| each woman experiences as they transition through | | | | HRT is really a personal choice - there is no right or |
| menopause. This is also one of the greatest | | | | wrong answer. While some women may not want to |
| challenges that Doctor's and Scientist face in their | | | | accept the risks associated with HRT others may |
| effort to understand the affects HRT has on the | | | | want to. Each woman must decide for herself, with |
| female breast. | | | | input from her doctor, the best course of action. |
| Probably the biggest concern women have about | | | | Both patient and doctor should be comfortable with |
| HRT is the increased risk of that dreaded disease - | | | | the decision to take HRT or to pursue other |
| Breast Cancer! Breast cancer risk, like many diseases, | | | | treatments. |
| increases with age for women, but it is not | | | | If you do decide to try HRT make sure you work |
| specifically affected by menopause. Unfortunately, | | | | closely with your doctor - prescribing the right |
| recent studies have generated a lot of conflicting | | | | dosage may sometimes turn into a bit of a guessing |
| data between HRT and breast cancer risk. | | | | game. Keep your doctor informed as to how you are |
| But, before I go into the risk of developing breast | | | | feeling and whether or not you think it is helping. The |
| cancers from HRT, it is important that you | | | | best thing you can do is actually keep a journal and |
| understand how Estrogen and Progesterone | | | | track the symptoms that you're hoping HRT will help |
| hormones affect your body, or more particularly, | | | | with. The lower the dosages and the shorter the |
| your breasts. | | | | duration is best if you are worried about increased |
| There are two primary thoughts on how cancer | | | | breast cancer risk. But again your personal situation |
| develops in the breast. One is that cancer tends to | | | | should be discussed in detail with your doctor, if you |
| appear in fast growing tissue - Estrogen (and | | | | have another medical condition where the benefits |
| Progesterone) can cause breast tissue to grow at a | | | | HRT provide outweigh the increased breast cancer |
| faster rate - therefore this may be one way | | | | risk, then HRT should be considered. |
| Estrogen is related to developing breast cancer. A | | | | If HRT is not for you - you are not without help. |
| second theory is that when estrogen is broken down | | | | Thanks to all the ongoing research, new therapies |
| in breast tissue the resultant compounds may bind to | | | | and alternatives are being investigated every day and |
| genetic material (DNA) and damage it. Damaged DNA | | | | have proven successful for many women. But a |
| is a common cause of cancers. For the moment - | | | | word of warning - since this is a very new field, don't |
| these are two primary theories on how HRT may | | | | necessarily believe every thing you hear and read. |
| increase the development of breast cancer. | | | | There are a lot of companies trying to take |
| Understand that the scientific community is hard at | | | | advantage of this relatively new market. And since a |
| work trying to unravel the link between Estrogen and | | | | lot of the herbal remedies are not regulated by the |
| Breast Cancer -- or if there is even really a link -- but | | | | FDA some companies will package almost anything |
| good science takes time. There are so many | | | | with no regard for scientific data to back up their |
| variables (like medical history and diet) in every study | | | | claims. Look for resources that are impartial and |
| that it is impossible to blame ET or HT alone for | | | | companies that provide actual data to support what |
| breast cancer. Although the results of many clinical | | | | they are claiming. |
| trials does show that HRT MAY increase the risk of | | | | Lastly, I personally am an advocate of a healthy diet |
| developing breast cancer. | | | | and active lifestyle to beat menopausal symptoms |
| The Risk Factors | | | | and weight gain -- you should know that every clinical |
| As a result of the various studies and clinical trials | | | | study I have read has shown that these two factors |
| done, one thing is for sure, many more studies will | | | | are proven to ease the menopause transition by |
| need to be done before we unravel the mystery of | | | | regulating hormones naturally. And with no increased |
| HRT and breast cancer. In the mean time be aware | | | | risk of breast cancer -- actually eating the right foods |
| of the fact that: | | | | will help prevent breast cancer as well as many other |
| Breast cancer risk is increased with the use of ET, | | | | types of cancer and disease. So regardless of your |
| and to a greater extent with HT, use beyond 5 | | | | HRT decision -- the first step you should take when |
| years. And observational data suggest a slight | | | | it comes to helping yourself is to eat a proper |
| potential increase for breast cancer with HRT use for | | | | macronutrient profile and get that body of yours |
| less than five years. | | | | moving! |