Hello,
First, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this forum- your posts were my bible during my treatment helping me to understand that other people have fought the same battles and that there is life after the diagnosis!
I am a 32 year old female and last November I was diagnosed with HL. I had 2 cycles of ABVD followed by 4 cycles of BEACOPPDac. Thankfully, I have been in remission since March. Unfortunately, the BEACOPP has probably thrown me into an early menopause given the fact that I have not had my period since February. I had hot flashed for about two months after my treatment ended. At that stage we checked my hormones mainly to confirm if my thyroid was ok. While the thyroid hormones were fine, the rest of my reproductive hormones were all over the place (low estrogen, high progesterone? and FSH through the roof). I have asked my hematologist for another test but they consider it pointless given the fact that it has not been 1 year since my treatment has finished. Somehow I have accepted the fact that I am already in menopause so I am looking forward to what I need to do next in order to preserve my health and perhaps start a family (assuming that I do not relapse!). Long story short, I was wondering what are your thoughts on HRT given the fact that it might increase the risk of breast cancer? I asked my hematologist who said that may be I should not look into that but he did not sound too convinced....I am obsessing with the statistics about the BC risk given the fact that if I go down this route I may be facing 20 years of HRT. At the same time I am worried about the impact of low estrogen on my cardiovascular system and brain...
I would be immensely grateful if you could share your experience and thoughts on that!
Vanya xxx
