Hormones After Breast Cancer, Dr. Corrine Menn, Dr. Kelly Casperson
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- You Are More Than Just Your Breast Cancer - Hormones and Breast Cancer
Dr. Corinne Menn is a board certified OBGYN and North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner.
She has a special interest in areas often neglected in women's health: Perimenopause and menopause, the unique needs of female cancer survivors and those at high risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Menn tells us her story of breast cancer dx at age 28, going through menopause three times and is now a pro-hormone educator.
Dr. Menn discusses taking systemic hormones and her journey and how it has changed her life.
Why are doctors and patients so afraid of hormones?
Doctors are so risk adverse - but let’s talk about the risks of not treating menopause.
The myth that estrogen causes cancer.
How Tamoxifen works.
Breast cancer nomenclature - estrogen positive - this doesn’t mean estrogen caused the cancer - we clarify.
The nuance of being overweight and risk of breast cancer.
The number one killer of women with history of breast cancer is heart disease.
Safety of systemic hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors
Article in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment · January 2022 - Dr Bluming
- "Twenty-five studies of HRT after a breast cancer diagnosis, published between 1980 and 2013, are discussed, as are the 20 reviews of those studies published between 1994 and 2021. Only 1 of the 25 studies, the HABITS trial, demonstrated an increased risk of recurrence, which was limited to local or contralateral, and not distant, recurrence. None of the studies, including HABITS, reported increased breast cancer mortality associated with HRT. Even in the HABITS trial, the absolute increase in the number of women who had a recurrence (localized only) associated with HRT administration was 22. It is on the basis of these 22 patients that HRT, with its demonstrated benefits for so many aspects of women's health, is being denied to millions of breast cancer survivors around the world."
The problem with the HABITS trial.
Why are we scaring women so much about breast cancer?
Who is the right breast cancer survivor to start hormones? A good candidate?
Are we overtreating with aromatase inhibitors?
Podcast partnership today: Always Discreet
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Bluming AZ. Hormone Replacement Therapy After Breast Cancer: It Is Time. Cancer J. 2022 May-Jun 01;28(3):183-190.
Young Survival Coalition youngsurvival....
Vaginal Estrogen for people with a history of breast cancer: www.acog.org/c...
Dr. Menn is an Alloy Health Medical Advisor and Prescriber www.myalloy.com
www.drmenn.com/
/ drmennobgyn
/ drmennobgyn
/ drmenn
“The fear of recurrence always prevented me from taking the next step.” Man, does that statement resonate with me and so many other BC survivors… even today with experts such as you two reinforcing the safety and benefits of hormones.
The fear is a massive mental mountain to climb for sure. Thankful that I finally made it over the mountain where vaginal estrogen is concerned. But I have to admit that as I apply and insert it almost every night because my GSM is so bad (17 yrs no estrogen), my mind STILL wonders, “Is this REALLY safe for me to be doing?”
Keep preaching Dr. ladies! We love you for working so hard to help us!! ❤
DX’d and treated 19 yrs ago… In response to my request to approve my using vaginal estrogen due to severe daily vaginal burning and inability to have sex with my husband, my oncologist shook her head “no” and replied, “I have no way of measuring your hormone levels.” This from a breast oncologist and researcher at an NIH-designated cancer treatment center at the University of Oklahoma. It’s a damn crime.
It's criminal and cruel, your oncologist has no right to damage your intimate life. Now if a man was unable to sustain an erection it's a medical emergency.
It was ignorant and cruel to refuse you. Note the difference the doc went with her dad to his doctor consult for prostate cancer. The doc was concerned about preserving his sexuality- she got nothing when she was young and married.
Same for me
When you say your cancer treatment has to be finished, before considering systemic HRT, do you mean that as a 56 year old woman, I’d have to wait 5-10 years of taking AI’s to restart my HRT?
I was on HRT and feeling great when I was diagnosed with a small, Stage 1 DCIS/Estrogen & Progesterone receptor positive breast cancer. I have my surgery next month, and don’t want AI. I just really want my HRT back. I thought breast cancer was going to be the biggest challenge I’m facing, but after listening to all of this, I realize the hardest part is going to be trying to get the best aftercare for my body. Of course I was advised to stop the HRT since diagnosis, and I’m suffering, mightily. I can’t imagine taking estrogen blockers as well
Dr. C, your questions re: estrogen and adipose tissue-and estrogen positive BC vs estrogen receptor positive BC-are so great! It would be incredibly helpful to pose these type questions to a highly-experienced and knowledgeable breast oncologist from one of our premier cancer treatment centers like MD Anderson or Sloan Kettering! These are the experts we BC survivors need to hear from to really be convinced that systemic hormones are truly safe for most of us. Does a physician like this exist? If so, we need to hear from them!
My podcast tomorrow is with Dr. Avrum Bluming...he is amazing and we talk about it!
@@kellycaspersonmdI can’t find this video. Can you link it here? Thank you! ❤
This is so enlightening and comforting to hear. I am on a hormone blocker. I am more worried about my heart, bones, and brain than my breasts. No one has ever mentioned vaginal estrogen. I want my patch back😢
Thank you for sharing. I suffered for ten years after my breast cancer diagnosis. I'm finally on HRT. Still have dry mouth. Praying in time HRT helps with this too 🙏.
Wow! Thank you. So glad I found you. I had stage 1 ER+ breast cancer in 2015, lumpectomy, intraoperative radiation, Tamoxifen for 8+ years (which didn’t bother me) all check-ups fine. Long story short, when I hit menopause a couple of years ago, the symptoms were absolutely debilitating. Luckily, found and read Estrogen Matters, went from doc to doc asking for estrogen and finally find a wonderful provider who is more up-to-date. Been on transdermal estrogen for a year and I have my life back. Thank you Dr Menn for what you are saying! I think so many people on line who speak about HRT are still afraid to say anything about HRT for breast cancer survivors. It’s like the third rail. I feel so bad for all the other survivors who are suffering. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Are you only taking estrogen or other hormones too?
@@ehswissie I have my estrogen patches and I have a compounded testosterone cream I use (pretty low dose). I’ve had a hysterectomy, so with no uterus it was not necessary to take progesterone. I tried it once and didn’t think it did anything and actually thought I felt worse. However, I’ve been having some trouble sleeping all night recently so my provider and I decided to try it again at a low dose. It’s only been two days, but it’s definitely helping with my sleep. I am so lucky that I have a provider who is willing to do the trial and error with me. I recently stopped taking Tamoxifen, per my oncologist, and that changes things, so a little more experimenting with dosages is in order.
I'm 57 just finished chemo and radiation for estrogen dominant breast cancer and I'm against taking an estrogen blocker and my dr is trying to push it on me and her nurse told me today I'm being reckless because I won't block what caused my cancer . People really gang up on us for a decision we choose for our own bodies . I'm more worried about heart , bone and mental and emotional health.
I refused it as well.
I refused them as well!
Wow! Did they actually phrase it as “this is what caused your cancer” (meaning estrogen)?
As the two doctors in this YT podcast explain, it’s unbelievable how many (even doctors & nurses apparently) still “believe” estrogen causes cancer. Ludicrous!
Good for you for standing up for what you wish to do!
@@kirstenmartin4396 yep that's what they are telling me caused it estrogen the thing we need for so many reasons I'm not willing to block it .
All an oncologist cares about is cancer. We are more than former breast cancer patients. My provider said with HRT after breast cancer there just isn’t PROOF that it’s safe. That’s not the same thing as it being horribly dangerous. I am willing to trade whatever the risk may be for feeling and functioning well and helping to prevent dementia, heart disease, colon cancer, osteoporosis, etc.
Also, I developed breast cancer when my hormones got wobbly during perimenopause, NOT when my estrogen was highest (my 20s, during 2 pregnancies, etc.) I believe the science is missing something.
I had a stage 0 insitu breast cancer that was determined to be estrogen fed. I had been on hrt for about 12 years. They immediately took me off of it. I did not regret taking it because of all the benefits to my heart and bones. I already had osteopenia. I am gaining visceral fat and I want my hormones back! I also have type 2 diabetes and was never overweight.😢
Thank you so very much for this. The timing for me is great. You've helped prepare me for a telehealth consult with a breast onc tomorrow. I've been on an AI for nearly 20 years, and I need more info, as my last two oncs just said "No" when I asked about stopping the AI. HRT was not even to be considered.
This is an amazing talk! My Oncologist admits to knowing nothing about menopause, even though her patients are thrown into it. I gave her Dr Av book. I just ordered the online Rx from Alloy, now trying to find a provider for more.
Thank you. This was exactly what I needed to learn. I’m 50 w no family history but lumpectomy 5 years ago diagnosed atypical Ductal hyperplasia. I have been told no to HRT by 3 different providers. I’m high risk. It’s shocking. It’s hard to get appt, your excited for support & HRT plan, then no…try coconut oil for if your dry or an antidepressant (which wasn’t even top symptom) it’s so tough & I so appreciate learning from you both! Thank you again!
you bet!
I couldn’t love this interview more. Thank you both so much for your willingness to have this conversation. ❤
So thankful for women like you, this is so informative and restoring hope to a system that have neglected us for too long.
Dr., So sad to hear about your Mom and all you've been through. True warrior who continues to move forward and even better, helps all women now. Thank you!
Bravo! I cannot tell you how many clients I have shared this with. Life changing - life expanding information right here.
Wonderful!
You mentioned vaginal estrogen and maybe a little patch. What is the level needed for brain, heart and bones?
.1 mg systemic estradiol patch
Just found a provider that started me on 0.025, didn’t want to go too fast since I am at zero. Can you link any articles about the dose needed to protect brain, bones, heart?
You need the dose that gets rid of your symptoms. The younger you are the higher the dose you need typically.
A list of the studies would be great. I assume the main study she is speaking in is the Danish study 1985….but could you list the other reviews/studies?
So true Doctor, it IS grim for sexual health support for bc survivors. So deeply disturbing. I had to strongly advocate for just getting pelvic floor rehabilitation due to the effects of endocrine (aromatase inhibitor) drugs.
I hope PT helps. I would love to feel safe to take the supplements to help with menopause syndrome. BUT I don’t think anyone working with me will allow me to use them.
This gives me so much hope!
This was so informative. As a 59 yr old er/pr + her2 -ve my oncologist said AI for 7yrs thats standard care no discussion even though I explain i had a nervous breadown going through menopause. Changing oncologist not an option when you from a small Caribbean Island with single digit Oncologist and he is seen as the guru.
If it's a myth that Estrogen causes cancer, why are post menopausal women who have low Estrogen placed on Aromatase Inhibitors?
How about stress and the effect on women's hormones?
Excellent I'm forwarding 2 my gyno who won't prescribe me. ..yet
Thank you so much for sharings! ❤
Does all this apply to breast cancer survivor stage1 ER PR+ BRCA2 +? I take vaginal estrogen but no onc or PCP will touch systemic for me. So many symptoms and ofc pcp wants to give me SSRI.
I would like to have a consult w Dr Menn. Thank you
If HRT is safe for symptomatic menopausal Breast Cancer survivors, by this theory- then premenopausal women with breast cancer should 'safely' be able to refuse endocrine therapy after chemo/mastectomy? If 'replacing' hormones is safe, embracing and keeping our premenopausal hormones would be ideal, correct? Tamoxifen and ovary suppression seems to be the risk for long term health, not the recurrence of treated breast cancer? Pls, make this distinction between replacement and maintaining for pre and post women. Thx
Can we use vaginal estrogen every day ? Externally ? Internally ???
Hi
I have a question. Has a breast cancer survivor, still in treatment. I am wondering if you would know if the position on HRT post hormonal cancer is evolving in Canada as well ?
Why did you decide to add systemic estrogen?
Why does est and pro + scare doctors....my gyno said we'll ur cancer was this and requested I speak to my oncologist from 4 yrs ago b4 she'll even consider putting me on hrt. This info needs 2 get out there asap
I have been breast cancer and now I have to stop using tamoxifen due to depression.. so please help me what should I do to prevent recurrence. Thanks you
When you say your cancer treatment has to be finished, before considering systemic HRT, do you mean that as a 56 year old woman, I’d have to wait 5-10 years of taking AI’s to restart my HRT?
I was on HRT and feeling great when I was diagnosed with a small, Stage 1 DCIS/Estrogen & Progesterone receptor positive breast cancer. I have my surgery next month, and don’t want AI. I just really want my HRT back. I thought breast cancer was going to be the biggest challenge I’m facing, but after listening to all of this, I realize the hardest part is going to be trying to get the best aftercare for my body. Of course I was advised to stop the HRT since diagnosis, and I’m suffering, mightily. I can’t imagine taking estrogen blockers as well.