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suzan w · 10-20-2010, 02:58 PM

I took HRT for over 10 years (gasp!). I went through early menopause in my early 40's, as did my mother and sister. because my parents also both had osteoporosis my doc at the time (1991) felt I should take HRT to 'protect' my bones. I balked for a year and finally had a DEXA scan which showed I already had severe osteoporosis. With no family history of breast cancer I reluctantly started on HRT (estradiol, as I recall). When the Women's Health Initiative in 2002 ceased their study early I again worried about taking HRT...and again was told my risk was not breast cancer, but osteoporosis. Which. by the way worsened with each DEXA scan. FINALLY, in 2005, a new gyn, said WHAT???You have been taking HRT for HOW LONG???? STOP immediately!!! Why oh why did I not pay attention to that gut feeling all those years? Well, the next week my routine mammo told the tale...invasive lobular breast cancer. I was lucky it was caught early. I am so glad to see that the HRT issue is still making news. In my case I know deep down inside that HRT for 12 years was not a good thing. I listen to my gut feelings now. I have breast cancer to thank for that!!

10-20-2010, 02:58 PM	#6
suzan w Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Naples FL Posts: 1,744	Re: Deep, gut feeling I took HRT for over 10 years (gasp!). I went through early menopause in my early 40's, as did my mother and sister. because my parents also both had osteoporosis my doc at the time (1991) felt I should take HRT to 'protect' my bones. I balked for a year and finally had a DEXA scan which showed I already had severe osteoporosis. With no family history of breast cancer I reluctantly started on HRT (estradiol, as I recall). When the Women's Health Initiative in 2002 ceased their study early I again worried about taking HRT...and again was told my risk was not breast cancer, but osteoporosis. Which. by the way worsened with each DEXA scan. FINALLY, in 2005, a new gyn, said WHAT???You have been taking HRT for HOW LONG???? STOP immediately!!! Why oh why did I not pay attention to that gut feeling all those years? Well, the next week my routine mammo told the tale...invasive lobular breast cancer. I was lucky it was caught early. I am so glad to see that the HRT issue is still making news. In my case I know deep down inside that HRT for 12 years was not a good thing. I listen to my gut feelings now. I have breast cancer to thank for that!! __________________ Suzan W. age 54 at diagnosis 5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast 5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++ 6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg. Oncotype DX-high risk 8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C 10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin arimidex-5 years 2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis 7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE 8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy 10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis) 6/14/10 5 year cancerversary! 8/2010-18%increase in bone density! no further treatments Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance" I say,"What a long strange trip its been" 'One day at a time' 6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY! 7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use 6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! 7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis 2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL. 6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!! 6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!