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[Marchlove]

Are you post menopause Justyna? X

[Podry]

Hi all, I am a total newbie on the forum and have not posted before. I am 56yrs & post menopausal (15yrs approx) due to breast cancer treatment then a total hysterectomy (including ovaries). I have ALL the symptoms of menopause but am really struggling with forgetfulness and general brain fog but can’t have HRT.  I had hoped that Testosterone alone might be an option but keep reading that the body converts this to oestrogen. I am not sure how it does this - it seems ovaries do it and I don’t have them but know our bodies are clever and have more than one way to achieve things… so, does anyone know if it still happens if no ovaries? Or know if T alone is an option for someone with a history of hormone sensitive BC? Also I saw it is expected that there are no vaso symptoms but I still have very regular flushes 🤦‍♀️ P.S. I am awaiting a menopause clinic appointment as my GP has now made a referral.

[Marchlove]

Hi Podry and welcome

So pleased your Gp has referred you to a menopause clinic.

Yes testosterone can convert to estrogen by way of an enzyme. This is a natural occurrence. So, women with BC can take testosterone if they take a aromatise blocker which stops this conversion.

You can explore this with your menopause clinic but you might need a further referral to Chelsea and Westminster as the best delivery of testosterone for ladies in this situation is by implant.

If you Google testosterone implants for breast cancer you will find a lot of information from studies in the states.

Testosterone as a stand-alone treatment for menopause is accepted there in many circle’s, we’re a bit behind the times, but I think this is your best avenue if research.

X

[joziel]

Hi Podry - I can't answer the thing about how the body converts testosterone, but I did want to encourage you to think and research more about whether you can have HRT. Because there are many women who've previously had breast cancer who choose to take HRT. The Newson Health doctors are very supportive of this choice, as long as your treatment has finished and you've been discharged.

And there is a lot of research showing that it is safe - take a look at the book called 'Oestrogen Matters' by Bluming on Amazon. There are also several podcast episodes from the Dr Louise Newson podcast where she talks about women taking HRT after breast cancer and the risks and benefits.

It saddens me that women aren't given all the facts and allowed to make an informed choice for themselves on this one. They are just told 'you can't do this'. That's not patient-led medicine. My mum had breast cancer and couldn't have HRT and had to take Letrizole to block all estrogen and she has just aged so badly on it, her memory is so bad and she's put on so much weight and had vaginal atrophy and a prolapse. I'm sure if someone had explained all the risks and benefits to her and allowed her to choose, she would have taken it.

After all, it's about quality of life. So please do some more research and reading and listening so you can make an informed choice - and if that choice is still not to take it, that's fine - at least it was informed and not you just being told by a doctor.

[Marchlove]

Yes you’re so right joziel.

I’ve a bit of a thing about testosterone  mono therapy for Cancer as it certainly from what I’ve researched had very good results.

That said, as you say, many women choose to take hrt for not only quality of life but also to prevent other horrible health outcomes.
You Mum is a case in point bless her.

My Mum died from cancer when I was very young, so it is a matter very close to my heart. Looking back she was treated  inappropriately and hrt would have made her life, however long she had, so much better.

So Podry, if it was me, I’d explore every avenue to get hrt in the best way appropriate for your situation.
As Joziel says, you’ll have to be your own health advocate to some extent, but I’m sure there’s a way forward for you. x

[Podry]

Hi all, sorry for the long delay in replying - I had not used the forum before and lost the link! Anyway, your responses are very helpful - although I have only been able to read them today. I did in fact do exactly as you all urged me to do anyway!

I was recommended elsewhere to explore the Balance-Menopause website/app and found loads of really useful information that educated and challenged my perceptions which were previously based on what I had been told at clinic - some 15 years ago though, so there was possibly not another view out there yet.

I ultimately saw one of the breast team doctors who is a menopause specialist after I called the BCN - I didn’t even know how to contact her anymore! I was so much more informed by then and after a 90 minute assessment and consultation I have been using transdermal oestrogen (2 pumps oestrogel) and oestrogen pessaries since early October. I will see her again mid January which is when she plans to start me on Testosterone too.

I do feel better already, my flushes have drastically reduced, I think my brain fog has also reduced and hope that will be boosted again by testosterone.

I am sad for the many years I have struggled on with these debilitating symptoms when it needn’t have been so bad. Many of the long term health benefits of HRT may still evade me since I have been post menopausal for so long - 13/14yrs but any improved quality of life is very welcome!!  I am still only 57yrs old.

Thank-you again ladies 🥰

[Marchlove]

Hi Podry

This is great news and thank you for coming back to tell us all.

It is sad that you have those wasted years but I hope that your new found knowledge and questioning of medical orthodoxy will stand you in a better place going forward, which it appears to be doing already