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HRT following a breast cancer diagnosis

Beans79
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Hello, I would really appreciate some advice. 
I was diagnosed with BC in 2019, it was hormonal. I had a lumpectomy- no lymph node involvement, chemo and radio and now take Tamoxifen. 
I believe the chemo knocked me into an early menopause and to avoid the need for ovary suppressant injections I opted to have my ovaries removed. 
In all honesty I am not suffering with any menopause symptoms as I believe I went through this at the time of chemo, however I am concerned about my ongoing health with regards to the negative affect of having an early menopause such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes etc.

Please could you advise me on whether I should take some form of HRT or not or if there are other things I can do to protect my health

many thanks

Kelly  

  • Hello Beans79

     

    Thanks for getting in touch and a very warm welcome to our online community. My name is Suzanne and I am one of the nurses.

    I can see that you are a member of our Breast Cancer Groups and hope that you are finding them supportive. You may be interested to know that we have a Life After Cancer group too.

    It’s great that you are focussing on staying well and protecting your health after your breast cancer treatment.

    Unfortunately, HRT is not recommended after breast cancer treatment because it contains oestrogen, which may increase the risk of the cancer coming back. Breast cancer guidelines do not recommend non-oestrogen types of HRT, or low dose progestogens either. Rarely, if a woman’s symptoms are severe and nothing else helps, HRT may be prescribed. This is only done after careful discussion with your cancer specialist to make sure you understand the possible risks as well as the benefits.

    That aside, there is lots of support out there to stay well after treatment. Life after cancer treatment can have its challenges and it’s great that you are being proactive about that.

    We have some great tips for lifestyle and well-being after treatment on our website .You will also find some useful resources on Breast Cancer Now.

    Regular physical activity is important as it can not only improve your emotional wellbeing but has the potential to reduce your risk of cancer recurrence and positively influence your general health. You may find this information on our Move More programme helpful.

    Another great resource for life beyond cancer is Mission Remission . This is an online resource full of support and information to support you.

    It would also be helpful for you to discuss your concerns with your GP so that your general health can be monitored on a regular basis.

    I hope this information is helpful Kelly. Please feel free to give us a call on the support line if you have any questions or wish to discuss your concerns.

     

    Best wishes,

     

     

    Suzanne, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

     

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

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