!!** Vaginal atrophy, urethral problems, Hormone administration Estriol, Progesterone

[R.B.]

Controversial, but deals with some fundamental issues !!

Hormone Therapy Possibilities for Breast Cancer Survivors and Women at High Risk for Cancer

by Pete Hueseman R.Ph.,P.D., Consultant Pharmacist
May 2004

http://www.project-aware.org/Resourc...stcancer.shtml


I suspect Alaska Angel may have a few thoughts on this.

This looks like a very serious article. It runs very much contrary to the "general" views we see expressed as to oestrogens and BC.

Please excuse me for posting this here but I think it is both of sufficiently wide interest and plain language to warrant it.

I came across it whilst looking at something else. I was wondering if they had looked at testosterone and BC. From this people obviously have, and it is suggested it increases survival but I have not as yet had a chance to look further.

This may give those with related issues something to print out and discuss with your oncs.

As usual I post it as a non expert simply on the grounds it looks like a serious article and I think it of sufficient importance to bring to your attention. This is clearly highly controversial and you must seek advice.


Estradiol is the most potent oestrogen, is made by aromatase P450, which needs PGE2 which is made from a child of omega six. P450 is what aromatase inhibitors target to try and stop it producing Estradoil.

Aromatse is found in the highest levels in the ovaries, the placenta and adipose tissue (fat).


RB

[R.B.]

As usual things are rarely clear - and I presume this is for HRT and testosterone - one higher risk one lower - and is not the same as testosterone on its own - as many questions as answers.

RB


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en..._uids=15356405

"CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the addition of testosterone to conventional hormone therapy for postmenopausal women does not increase and may indeed reduce the hormone therapy-associated breast cancer risk-thereby returning the incidence to the normal rates observed in the general, untreated population."


And this is what was reported in the press for the Nurses Study

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=63110

RB

[vickie h]

I have been on The Wiley Protocol for almost 2 years now, and I am feeling great. I have bio-identical hormones made for me at a specialty or compounding pharmacy. It is the same protocol that Suzanne Sommers used to cure her breast cancer. I swear by it, it has made a dramatic change in my life. You can google it or go to wiley protocol.com. Much love, Vickie

[Donna]

Hi Amazing Group,

I was using bio-identical hormones made by a formulary when I was dianosed - I had been using them for several years thinking it would protect me from all the "nasties" the chemical substitutes caused. I took estadiol, progesterone and testosterone. I think it would be unwise to call these bio-identicals protective. Also, the way I understand it, estrogens can be made from testosterone (?) and should also not be taken. I could be wrong there, let me know.

Have a great day!

Donna

[Hopeful]

I suffered from VA prior to bc. Now, with hormone positive bc (ER 80%, PR 50%) I take Arimidex, and the situation has become dire (i.e., the tissue has lost flexibility and it was almost impossible to do a Pap smear at my annual.) My gyn said two things improve tissue health: hormones and increased blood flow to the tissues. My onc said I could try hormone therapies IF I swtiched from an AI to Tamoxifen. My Oncotype Score of 44, validated against patients with a similar gene make-up treated only with Tamoxifen, leads me to believe that that would be a dangerous approach for me to take. I then asked my onc about Viagra to increase blood to the tissues. He treats a variety of cancers, including prostate, so I know he is familiar with the drug. He has no problem with it, but proceeded to scare me with a litnay of possible side effects. I have a sample packet of the pills, but fear the vision loss that is a remote but still distinct possibility. If anyone else here has tried it or discussed it with their doc, or known people who have used it without the vision side effects, I would love to hear about it; otherwise, I guess just some encouragement to give it a go would be appreciated. I see my gyn again next month, and I do not anticipate good news.

Hopeful

[R.B.]

Donna

The link says this "She also should not receive estradiol, of course. ". Do you maybe mean estroil ? One for your onc to answer maybe?


Hopeful

This is what the link says about arimidex. There are lots of different opinions. I have no idea what is right wrong best or otherwise, but you could always print the link out and take it along to see what your onc says.

" Certainly a person with an estrogen-receptor-positive tumor is at much higher risk with estradiol treatment than an estrogen-receptor-negative tumor. However, both types of tumors have an elevated risk of recurrence with estradiol treatment.

My thoughts are that a patient with a history of estrogen-receptor-positive tumor should DEFINITELY be on Arimidex for life! She also should not receive estradiol, of course. The other hormones (except DHEA) are fine. The downside for women at risk of breast cancer is that DHEA can convert to estrogen and has a stimulatory effect on breast cells, particularly when estrogen is low. Close watch on overall hormone balance levels is required, and testing is recommended every 6 months. In terms of estrogen receptor negative, I would say that Arimidex is probably not a must. "

[RobinP]

I read mixed reviews on the postmenopausal use of HRT after BC. It appears that the lower the dose, the more bio-identical the formulas are, and the lower the duration of therapy, the less risk of increased bc mortality. Additionally, the progesterone with estrogen increases risk. Also, cyclic progesterone rather than continuous MAY be safer.

The oncologists tell me that f you're hormonal negative, it is okay to keep menstrating and not take an anti-estrogen. So that makes me wonder if you are hormonal negative, wouldn't logically HRT seem okay? It's all complex. I know that the HABITS trial indicates that HRT increases bc risk. However, other trials indicate that HRT doesn't increase bc, ad some trials even indicate that HRT has lower risks than no use, which seems odd. I do think what stage you were at diagnosis effects the outcome of HRT use. I certainly don't see any risk associated with something as low stage as DCIS with masectomy, which essentially has no risk of relapse. I don't know about higher stages, though. All I can say, is the results are mixed and can make comprehension of it all VERY difficult.

GREAT ARTICLE ON HRT:
http://www.cbs.com/cbs_cares/menopau...chiff_02.shtml


Tibolone, a European Drug, and another Pharmaceutical Alternatives to HRT :
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newswe...n_tibolone.htm

[SoCalGal]

I KNEW you were a guy. That's all I will say here. I am laughing as I type.

Have you heard of Dr Kenneth Conklin at UCLA? Am newly under his guidance regarding diet and supplements. He is also passionate about the omega's. And also about CO-Q-10 which I now take in a delicious chewable formula. Almost as good as my Flintstones. I am now dairy free, gluten free, sugar free (except the whole marshmallow thing) and continue to be organic, free range, etc. etc.

Want to give my body it's best shot at getting this under control. Am still reeling from the stage four-ness of my diagnosis. In most ways I'm still just me but it's for sure hanging over my head.

All kidding aside, thank you for your posts. They bring a very male energy to the site, very calm, direct, level and to the point. Concise, fact-filled and informative. Even on-line, your style comes through. Thanks for posting such important information!
--Flori

[suzan w]

thank you Robin for the link to the CBS article. It was very informative! I am still confused about the whole estrogen thing as I DID take hormone replacement therapy for about 6 years...with NO family history of any cancer at all...and then was dx'd with breast cancer...go figure! I guess family history has to start somewhere~ I always had a 'gut feeling' that HRT was not a good thing for me but I have osteoporosis so that was the reasoning behind it.

[RobinP]

Your welcome, Susan. I love the photos of your dog, it looks like my childhood pet. Sorry, you got bc and feel its due to hormones. Don't burden yourself with guilt though. I think Dr. Susan Love, says that those who get bc while on HRT do so not because HRT caused their bc, but because they would have gotten bc eventually, but HRT just excelerates it so that it shows up sooner.

[R.B.]

Again the usual caveat. I came across this looking for something else. It is cogently written not associated with any advertising, and seems to be from the heart.

Any thoughts or questions you must talk to your advisor.

I simply post this in the interest of wide ranging debate. I am not in a position to judge if it is right or wrong.

RB


ABSTRACT

http://www.project-aware.org/About/who.shtml

"Mission Statement

Founded in 1997, Project AWARE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing menopausal and premenopausal women with complete and comprehensive information regarding all resources, therapies, and research data currently available, so that armed with this knowledge, women can make informed decisions regarding every healthcare option.

Our fervent hope is that the following goals will further this ideal."

http://www.project-aware.org/Health/...-progest.shtml

How Progesterone Protects Against Breast Cancer

from "Hormones Without Fear" by Ivy Greenwell

"Even this is not yet full picture, and one could still discuss proto-oncogenes, epidemiological studies, and various animal and clinical studies. However, just on the basis of its physiological action the evidence is pretty overwhelming that progesterone does indeed protect against breast cancer. Usually one sees this statement: "protects against endometrial cancer" and the more tentative "helps protect against breast cancer.""

[R.B.]

Thank Flori.

I checked your Onc out on google - looks like he is a "authority"

Diet certainly is "Bedrock", I am sure about the size of the T bones though.

Thank you for the kind words - always good to know I am not perceived as barking.

RB