Good evening... I was hoping you would be able to advise me as to whether I could have HRT treatment to help with my menopause symptoms.
I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy last year.
Thanking you in advance
Deb
Hi DebL21
Thanks for getting in touch. Welcome to the online community.
My name is Paula and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line
I can see you have joined several of our online groups including the breast cancer forum and the under 50’s forum. I hope you’re finding them helpful to share your experiences with others.
Sorry to hear your struggling with menopausal symptoms. It is quite common after some breast cancer treatment and can be hard to cope with. I can imagine the impact it’s having on you.
Unfortunately, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is generally not recommended to women after a breast cancer diagnosis. As it can increase the risk of the breast cancer coming back or developing another breast cancer. However in some exceptional cases it may be offered to some women after the associated risks have been discussed.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have produced guidelines for doctors on the best way to manage and support women who are unable to have HRT. It’s worth having a chat with your team or GP to see if they can help manage the symptoms you’re currently having.
You may also find these practical tips helpful too.
There is also a website called Menopause Matters which provides up to date information about the menopause, symptoms and treatment options that might be worth looking at.
I hope this information has been helpful, but if you need further support please don’t hesitate to get back in touch.
