Hormones

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 at age 39.  My periods stopped after I started chemo for about 6 months.  Since they started again I spot for two weeks and have my period for one week which means there is one week out of the month I am not having my period.  My question is, do you think there would be a problem with me taking birth control pills to regulate this?  Even though my cancer was er,pr negative my Oncologist is insistant that I don't take any kind of hormones.  What do you think?  I can't see any other solution to this problem.  Thank you, Kasey

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear Kasey39:  It has long been the case that any woman diagnosed with breast cancer should avoid taking hormones for the rest of her life, regardless of whether the cancer was hormone receptor positive or not.  Because of the many benefits of hormone replacement therapy, namely heart benefits and reduction of osteoporosis, much attention is beginning to be given to this issue.  A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by Dr. Ellen O