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[Sparrow]

Thank you Bobidy.  That's very useful and reassuring information. 

[Alicess]

It's been 17 years since the WHI study claimed that HRT causes breast cancer. Why did they not find another solution (besides AD's, Clonedine and Black cohosh)? Why do some women benefit from HRT while others don't? What about testosterone, SHBG, aromatase etc?

There are so many clues that hormones are involved in so many illnesses, mentally and physically, and still there is so little attention or research and so few options regarding treatment. I don't understand.

It's been on the news in Holland too and I'm afraid it will put us even further back into the Stone Age regarding menopause as no GP will prescribe HRT.

[paisley]

I think you will always find different takes on HRT by experts. Just like  experts say one day something is good for you & the next it's a known killer. Research is up & down
I found this research from Finland saying Reduced risk of breast cancer in post menopausal women on HT. There is different research & opinions all the time on HRT. We have to way up all that research & decide what is best for us

You have to copy & paste the link

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27465718/

[paisley]

You can just click on the link. You don't have to copy & paste it

[Jeana1]

I'm with you on this BeaR. Absolutely have no trust in private « meno specialists »

Of course they encourage women to take hrt, along with the follow up appointments and the odd minor surgery... they have their mortgages to pay. I don't trust a word they say...

I do trust my NHS GP, who is utterly against it, in my case. Plus for women generally, she says to take for the least amount of time.

Orrla, I can't find where your 4 point summary is written. If you see it again, can you post the link as I'd be interested to read it. Thanks!

X


Re: Link to Guardian article this morning re increased breast cancer risk on HRT
« Reply #65 on: August 30, 2019, 02:31:15 PM »
ReplyQuoteModifyModifyRemoveRemove
Hi Ladies

I emailed Dr Karen Morton (consultant gynecologist) this morning about the HRT study and told her I was very worried about it, here is the reply she sent me.

Dear Jeana, I am sure you are not the only woman who listened to the Radio 4 broadcast with anxiety. I sometimes wonder what the press would do without these sort of studies to raise alarm about. I inset here the response that a colleague of mine, Dr Peter Greenhouse has written to the Editor of the programme wishing that the whole picture was better portrayed. 'To the Editor I hope you will have someone authoritative speaking in response to Prof Val Beral's Lancet study. Nobody should alter their HRT regime or consider not starting HRT because of this research because: 1. Women who take HRT are less likely to DIE of breast cancer than those who've never taken it 2. Women who take HRT and do develop breast cancer have a significantly better 10 year survival (80%) than those who've never taken it (64%) 3. Women who take HRT have a lower all-cause mortality than those who've never taken it - due mostly to a substantially reduced risk of death from heart attack 4. The risks of being denied HRT far outweigh any from taking it, as there is a “Mortality Toll” from HRT avoidance These four simple messages should be offered to the public with equal emphasis to the information from the Oxford group Lancet study.' So Jeana, I hope that reassures you. I do not think you should change anything, but of course, like all women, be vigilant about self examination and having your regular mammograms. Very best wishes, Karen


Jeana

[Jeana1]

I'm with you on this BeaR. Absolutely have no trust in private « meno specialists »

Of course they encourage women to take hrt, along with the follow up appointments and the odd minor surgery... they have their mortgages to pay. I don't trust a word they say...

I do trust my NHS GP, who is utterly against it, in my case. Plus for women generally, she says to take for the least amount of time.

Orrla, I can't find where your 4 point summary is written. If you see it again, can you post the link as I'd be interested to read it. Thanks!

X

Hi Jari

I couldn't work out how to send you the post so I just copied the quote, hope it got to you ok?

I'm as confused and concerned about continuing to take HRT as I was after hearing about the study, just can't decide what to do?

Jeana

[Hurdity]

Bear you clearly stated your view about not necessarily accepting the “opinion” of both private and NHS doctors in this matter (not taking "their word as gospel"), and Jari you are contrasting private menopause specialists (with whom you disagree because you feel they are only concerned with making money and therefore biased) with NHS GPs whom you do trust. As we have seen many NHS GPs simply are not “expert” enough (and yes I will use the word) – ie have insufficient specialist knowledge and understanding of these issues but you trust your own GP (who may well have the knowledge I hasten to add!).

However there are plenty of NHS menopause specialists and gynaecologists as well as scientists  – which I mentioned before have produced informed responses to this study and whose “opinion” ie judgement of the papers I do trust (and even though I am also a scientist by training, I do regard as authorities while still having a critical eye as we all can whatever our background) since it is their job to understand it and advise.

There were many such responses – which have been linked to – including Prof Michael Baum – who is “Professor Emeritus of Surgery and visiting Professor of Medical Humanities in University College London (UCL), is a British surgical oncologist who specialises in breast cancer treatment.  Not a private medical menopause doctor.  He is also known for his contributions to the evaluation and support of patient quality of life. He has been Professor of Surgery in King's College London, the Royal Marsden Hospital and UCL.” Look no further than Dr Heather Currie who does not practice privately and who is the founder and manager of this site and whose balanced response is here:

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/newsitem.php?recordID=204/Type-and-timing-of-menopausal-hormone-therapy-and-breast-cancer-risk which Emma linked to earlier (but this thread is long so you might miss it hence my linking to it again).

I think these two responses (Prof Baum and Dr Currie) speak for themselves.

There are also some more detailed responses some of which have not been widely published here including one from a statistician: https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-study-looking-at-hrt-use-and-risk-of-breast-cancer/

Orrla I also looked for that summary and I have a feeling it appeared early on on Friday (or was it Thursday) but has been later edited.

For information the mortality data quoted in that summary I think comes from the Finnish study (which I think was also referred to in the Lancet paper?) which was reported  a few years ago:  https://thebms.org.uk/2016/07/breast-cancer-mortality-use-hrt/ This was also an observational study.

I like Prof Baum's opening statement: “Two principles in the practice of medicine – improve length of life (LOL) and quality of life (QOL). “  For many of us QOL for the 30-40 years we (hope to )  live beyond menopause, is paramount.

Have a good day girls

Hurdity x

[Jari]

Hi Jeana1, thanks so much for finding that. I did look, but couldn’t find it.

I just don’t know. Firstly, I’m always pessimistic about « meno specialists » I’m afraid. Peter Greenhouse is one, so of course he doesn’t want this news out, because it deeply affects his pay pack.

But, I am curious that he openly says that women who take hrt are less likely to die of BC than women who don’t take it. ?!

I’m wondering,( if that’s true ), if that’s because women on hrt should be monitored frequently and therefore their BC is found sooner, so are treated quickly and hopefully don’t die from it and maybe women who are not taking it are not getting checked so much, or maybe skipping their mammograms.. I’m not sure. I guess that’s a possibility, but I’d like to see where he gets that figure from. Is it one he’s made up to suit his lifestyle, or is it out there as fact?! If it is, then it’s very interesting.
Thanks for sharing xx

[Foxylady]

I'm with you Hurdity, thanks for the links. x

[racjen]

Been away for a bit and haven't read all the posts in this thread, but as someone who had breast cancer 3 years ago (but not hormone receptive) I'm choosing not even to read this article. The sudden menopause brought about by chemo has made the last 3 years hell and I'm only now coming out of it, thanks at least in part to HRT. In my humble opinion quality of life is way more important than statistics about possible risk - I'd reached the point where I felt my life really wasn't worth living - give me HRT, whatever the risk, over that xxx

[Butterfly22]

Or women were put into mental institutions due to becoming unstable with The Change.  My granny had what we would call post natal depression but was locked away and had agerophobia for ever.  . Both grannies lived into their early 80s as did their sisters except 1, who died in her 50s.  Both had access to fresh fruit and veg in season; sorry, I digress 

People drink/smoke without thinking about it, put an HRT prescription in front of them and they query every squiggle  . 

Quality of Life girls!


Very true, i always say years ago I would of been locked up due to bad PMT. probably locked up and forgotten about. Your poor grannie though.
I also agree if you do smoke and drink this is greater risk, maybe give them up. Xx

[Perinowpost]

One of my best friends has terminal breast cancer.  She has never taken hrt.  She doesn't drink or smoke either (and never has done), she is overweight though. My point is you look at the studies and you weigh up the risks. The study doesn't put me off taking hrt; as several posters have said it's about quality of life, and on balance risks are so low I feel I'm far better off on it than off it x

[Jari]

Thanks for the links Hurdity. Here's another one from the same year as the Finnish study, 2016.

https://thebms.org.uk/2016/08/breast-cancer-now-study-finds-effect-combined-hrt-breast-cancer-risk-likely-underestimated/

X

[Butterfly22]

I think that's what it comes down to perinowpost, personal choice, can you get by without it maybe taking natural route or can you really not function without it?
We are all different, starting at different times, different symptoms, different challenges in life so only we can say what's right for us.
Personally if it helps me I'll take it, I am a little different as started early but if I feel good in my 50's with it I'll take it.
Xx

[Jari]

I do agree that we're all in different situations, with different levels of symptoms and we have to each decide, after having made the obvious lifestyle changes, what is best for us.

Quality of life does change drastically by losing weight if needed, giving up smoking, cutting down alcohol, eating a quality balanced diet and having regular good exercise. If we do all this and we still have terrible symptoms then of course hrt has to be considered... it is most definitely quality of life all round. X