Can a Breast CA Survivor have HRT?

At any time, can a breast cancer survivor go on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if diagnosed with osteoporosis but cancer free 10 + years?

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

It is terrific you are 10 years cancer free.  Whether or not one can take HRT after cancer is one of the most difficult questions there is to answer.  Many doctors will just say no. Never take HRT after certain cancers. But in certain instances, in very specific cases, some doctors will prescribe estrogen.  Usually it is for vaginal dryness, or hot flashes or other quality of life conditions that do not respond to other medications or treatments. Because there are a number of other treatments for osteoporosis, it would be unusual after cancer to treat with HRT to treat that problem.

However, for your doctor to consider estrogen, it will depend on the type of cancer, how advanced it was, and how aggressive it was.  If the cancer was a low stage, not very aggressive, not sensitive to estrogen and other methods of treatment have failed, then taking estrogen might be an option.  Hopefully your cancer is cured.  But it is important to discuss your question with your doctor for your specific situation. If he or she isn