Stopping HRT drops cancer risk fast

[deepdiver]

Stopping HRT drops cancer risk fast

Dear Friend,

I've always been down on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Why? Well, pick a reason. Every time I turnaround, there's more and more bad news about it. In recent months, I've told you about studies that have pointed to HRT's seemingly endless list of nasty side effects like brain shrinkage, dementia, and even gallbladder disease.

But my biggest issue with HRT has always been the role it plays in causing cancer. And now a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine seems to indicate that taking women off of HRT cuts their cancer risk – and fast.

For years, drug companies have pushed synthetic HRT on women as a panacea for hot flashes and the other ills of postmenopausal life. But I've always been disconcerted with the fact that women risk cancer, stroke, and blood clots just to overcome periodic discomfort.

The new study was conducted by UCLA oncologist Dr. Roman Chelbowski, and it found that the rate of breast cancer in postmenopausal took a nosedive in the first two years after they stopped using HRT, and then continued to drop each year afterwards.

On the other hand, the women in the study who also took hormone supplements of estrogen and progestin were TWICE as likely to develop cancer over five years, compared to women who weren't on any form of HRT.

Chelbowski says cutting off excess estrogen could have acted as a kind of treatment for small, preclinical cancers in the women – cancer too small to be detected or treated with traditional methods.

Dr. Jonathan Berek, an OB-GYN from the Stanford University School of Medicine, said, "This study isn't an indictment of hormone use at menopause. It just means that like all medicines, hormones have their benefits and risks, so they have to be used very judiciously and for a short time."

Don't believe it for a minute. The list of health negatives associated with HRT is as long as a gorilla's arm. As for me, I'm inclined to back Chelbowski's study – or any study – that advocates the end of HRT as a viable treatment for menopause.
Dr. D.

[allmymarbles]

It stands to reason that disrupting the chemical balance of an otherwise healthy person is going to have negative side effects. That is true of birth control pills and true of hormone replacement therapy. Neither I nor any of my daughters used birth control pills and I did not resort to HRT. Maybe we are out-of-step with the times, but our decisions are medically sound.

[allmymarbles]

The reason your doctor wants to take you off the hormones is probably because you have reached the age when most women are going through menopause. His purpose is reasonable.

[iris986]

I had a hysterectomy when I was 23 years old and a double oophorectomy when i was 33 years old.

[iris986]

I have been on HRT replacement-ESTRADIOL for 26 years, living life without them is impossible. For six months a couple of years ago I tried all the black cohash and different things on the internet, none of it worked to stop the (hot flashes, night sweats, dry skin, vaginal atrophy, vaginal dryness, not being able to have sex, hair loss, depression, moodiness, crying all the time and over all feeling like crap. I understand the risk and believe it should be a womens choice as to whether they take it or not. We can't live our lives on what ifs.

My new GYN is wanting to pull me off my hormones in 2 weeks, I am going to find a new doc that will give them to me, she doesn't have to live in my body or my mind when I am off of them.

[Janet535]

Thank you for the posting. It has come at a good time for me personally.

I already have cancer and have been undergoing chemo for the last 14 months, but have been thinking about stopping the chemo. I did mention this in passing to my Oncologist at my last appointment and he said if I were to do that, he would put me on a HRT.

I didn't really ask why at that time but will be seeing him this week to confirm my decision. I will most certainly be asking far more questions this time around. Your posting has reminded me to get as much info on HRT's as possible so I can make my own informed decision.

Cheers...Janet