I finished treatment for cervical cancer in December 2024. I had chemoradiotherapy and Brachytherapy. It has put me in the menopause. I have been told to start HRT and have spoken to a menopause specialist clinic.
I have a few issues that are stopping me. I have been a vegetarian since I was a child and following my treatment I had a PE.
The first lot of progesterone tablets I was prescribed from the specialist have a gelatine coating - micronise progesterone which I understand is safer but not suitable for vegetarians.
I contacted the clinic and they emailed my GP to find a suitable alternative. I went to my GP today he said I could take the gel coating off but that still makes me feel like I’m eating an animal!
The GP prescribed me a different progesterone tablet that is vegetarian but it is also synthetic version. It has increased risks of breast cancer, blood clots and increasing blood sugar.
I feel really torn and confused as I don’t want to take something that could make me worse. I am so fed up with hot flushes with anxiety and not sleeping. Amitriptyline wasn’t the answer to sleeping as it just made me foggy all day.
I feel like my personal choice to no consume animal products is stopping me from getting the best treatment but I just can’t do it.
I don’t feel like I can use pessarys as I still feel freaked out from treatments and examination. I hate the thought of having to put something inside me everyday.
I really don’t know what to do? Should I take the synthetic progesterone and risk blood clots, upsetting by blood sugar levels and potentially getting breast cancer?I am already on anti-coagulants.
What have you tried and advise to help me make these hard decisions.
Thank you x
