ERT and ovarian cancer

[mirjana133]

Hi,I was diagnosed at 21 with 3c ovarian cancer.I am 22 now and am currently going through chemo,finished my 4th cycle.I had complete hysterectomy and ofcourse entered surgical menopause and my gyno/onc gave me an estrogen patch.I was wondering if you can tell me if ERT can cause my cancer to recur after i finish chemo or if it can can cause my cancer to grow and chemo not to work??i ma really worried about that considering what the media is saying about hrt and ert and at the same time I am wayy to young to live my life in menopause and all the diffiulties that it brings.
thank youuuu

[Jane39]

You shouldn't be dealing with cancer, chemo, surgery, HRT, any of this CRAP, your biggest worry should be what the heck you are going to do Friday nite.

Be Strong Young Person ;)  Kick this Cancer to The Kurb!!


Jane

[mirjana133]

Oh thank you girls for your help and info I reaally appreciate it.I will definitely have to ask my onc to test me to see if I am er+ I  dont want to take any chances.I also heard that there were some women whose cancer came back because they were on an estrogen patch and er+.If I am I will definitely have to cope somehow with menopause but like you said jane39 it s better to deal with that then have cancer.I just hope I will be one of those whose menopause is not too difficult on them.Ugh it is really hard to deal with all of this I gotta say.
I admire you women for being so courageous and strong.God bless you

[Jane39]

Bless your heart.  You are so young to have to deal with this.  I totally agree with Gail.  I also had breast cancer in my family history so HRT was out of the question for me.  So I know alot of people suffer horrible effects of menopause, but I personally (being put in surgical menopause at 39), hasn't been that big of a deal.  Had some hot flashes in the beginning (only now and then now), nothing that big to deal with.  And ok if you ask my husband if I can be alittle moody, he will probably jump at the question to say yes, but you know what, I have Cancer, I am entitled to be alittle grumpy now and then.  I really don't have these devastating horrible experiences to tell about menopause, there are alot of us that don't, yes there are alot that do, but you might be one of the lucky ones that might be fine.  Good Luck to you sweetie.  You will be in my prayers.


Jane

[gah_70]

It is important your cancer is tested for hormone receptors if it has not already been tested.  Ask your doctor.  If your cancer is estrogen or progesterone receptor positive, HRT can cause a recurrence.  It means your cancer "feeds" off the hormones, so introducing them back into your body could be the fuel the cells need to start growing again. I don't want to scare you, but that's exactly what happened to one of our young members a few years ago.  Don't wait.  Do it as soon as possible.  Better to suffer the effects of menopause than to deal with more cancer.

Good Luck,
Gail