HRT

Hi Sourdough Welcome to the forum and I am so sorry to hear about what's happening  for you. Sadly if you are on HRT they will tell you to stop and Im surprised they have not said that to you already.  Its so hard I know it is but the fact that you are hormone positive is reason enough to stop anything that will be feeding this type of Breast Cancer. They will put you onto drugs after surgery which will reduce the Hormones  further to protect you . You need to speak with them re how you are feeling and you are right, our Mental Health and wellbeing is most definetely  affected by coming off the HRT but unfortunately it is not an option for us . You nee dot speak to them as a matter of urgency.

I realise it's not an option, I've tried several times to go cold turkey and cut down relatively slowly. The outcome is the same, anxiety to the point of not wanting to go on. I have spoken to the breast cancer nurse.

Hi Sourdough,

I know how you feel - you are definitely not 'the only one' but I think maybe we are in the minority. I couldn't possibly advise you but I can tell you my story & the decisions I've made following research/advice and with the full support of my BC team.

I have decided not to stop HRT. I have beaten myself up about this for weeks but have finally decided that my life without HRT is not worth the hell  - a situation very few people would understand,especially those with ER+ BC. I have also decided not to take AIs or Tamoxifen. 

I have been on (the worst) SSRI antidepressant for 25 years and unable to get off it due to the severe withdrawal effects. Hysterectomy 20 years ago - I refused to take HRT and instead took a cocktail of supplements which saw me through the menopause quite successfully. Then, a couple of years ago I had an episode of horrendous anxiety/depression and needed to take 4 months off work. I researched my issues and determined that this episode was caused by an increase in cortisol (at the time it felt like constant adrenaline rushes) and I was in a permanent state of fight or flight.

My (new) GP agreed to prescribe Oestrogen-only HRT even though I was 62 at the time and was way past the menopause. He agreed that the potential benefit far outweighed the <1% increased risk of BC.(Note: this is the risk associated with Oestrogen-only HRT;  I believe the risk is  greater with ER/PR HRT) . The effect has been phenomenal - I can't explain the difference it has made to my life.

I was diagnosed with BC less than a year after starting HRT and every medical person I've met has said that there is no way the HRT has caused the cancer - it has however helped it grow. I opted for a mastectomy & my pathology results/oncotype tests came back as clear margins/clear nodes, chemo not necessary and 10% chance of recurrence IF I take the AIs/Tamoxifen for 5/10 years. I've elected to have my other breast removed to reduce the risk of another hormone-fed BC in the other breast.

So, what factors have I taken into consideration in order to make the decision to continue with HRT and not take hormone blocking drugs?

I live alone, completely independent no partner or children. Need to work to be able to afford to live. Cannot afford to be ill nor would I cope with being ill either mentally or physically.

The HRT is keeping me mentally well and, given my hypersensitivity to many medications ,the AI side-effects would be horrendous. My BC nurse said that 'these drugs take many ladies to a 'dark place' and if you have already been there these drugs are not for you'. You can't take Tamoxifen if you are taking the SSRI that I'm on and I'm unable to get off it.

Risk factors for getting BC -  for myself Oestrogen is way down the list:

- my close family history of all types of cancer including BC = 1 parent, 3 of 4 grandparents, 2 of 3 aunts & 1 of 5 cousins. No-one in my close family has lived  beyond age 72.(my dad). My mum died aged 63.

- never given birth/breastfed

- I've smoked for 50 years

- I'm overweight; eat relatively healthily & exercise regularly but unable to shift post- hysterectomy weight gain 

- Oestrogen HRT. At age 64, 20 years post-hysterectomy - how much hormone can I be producing even with HRT? I will ask GP to do blood test to determine this when next prescription for HRT is due.

I follow Dr Liz O'Riordan on Instagram - she's a breast cancer surgeon who has breast cancer (it's just recurred locally for the second time) and she tells it exactly as it is - she's brilliant.  She goes through everything you can do to ease the menopause symptoms and/or dealing with the AI/Tamoxifen side effects.. However, she ends the session by saying that if the side effects are too hard to bear especially mentally you should discuss taking HRT with your oncologist.

I've discussed all this with my BC team- my BC nurse Sarah is fantastic. She completely understands where I'm coming from and supports my decisions even putting them to the MDT as the right choice for me. She has many,many ladies who start the AI drugs but don't continue them, She has ladies that have refused chemo/radio and of the few that do have recurrence, none of them have regretted their original decision.

So Sourdough it's now 2am and I've rambled on justifying my own decisions.But I just wanted to show you that you do have options - it's your body, mind, life. You just need to research obsessively, get the facts & figures, the risks vs benefits for YOUR situation. Get on Instagram or YouTube & watch Dr Liz O'Riordan always keeping in mind that even her circumstances may be different to yours.

Wishing you the strength to make the decisions that are right for YOU. Night night x

You've given me some hope. Thank you X

SEE TODAYS MAIL ONLINE ABOUT THE RISKS OF HRT AND CANCER!! 17/09/23

I'm well aware of the risks of taking HRT. The point I made was the difficulty and effect on my mental health while trying to stop HRT.