| As many women begin the transition through | | | | a much greater impact if you are already at risk of |
| menopause a lot of consideration goes into the idea | | | | developing breast cancer. If you fit into any of the |
| of taking Hormone Replacements - whether it is just | | | | categories below - then most physicians would |
| Estrogen (Estrogen Therapy or ET) or a combination | | | | probably agree that you should avoid HRT. |
| of Estrogen and Progesterone (Hormone Therapy or | | | | If you are a breast cancer survivor: The concern is |
| HT). For the purpose of this article Hormone | | | | that HRT may stimulate the growth of small or |
| Replacement Therapy (HRT) will refer to both HT | | | | hidden tumors, it is nearly impossible to determine |
| and ET.Replacing your hormones with either natural | | | | how many women harbor these hidden cells known |
| or synthetic (laboratory made) forms of hormones | | | | as micrometastases.If you have a family history of |
| may offer some benefit by helping to reduce many | | | | breast cancer: It is not clear whether women with a |
| of the symptoms of early menopause - such as, hot | | | | family history are at increased risk of developing |
| flashes, insomnia, moodiness, and vaginal dryness. As | | | | breast cancer when taking HRT and therefore the |
| well as more serious problems that may result from | | | | medical community is cautious about recommending |
| menopause like weakened bones, and | | | | it.If you have a history of: Uterine cancer, Liver |
| osteoporosis.But as with EVERY pharmaceutical | | | | disease, Blood clots, Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding or |
| product made to help relieve pain or discomfort there | | | | Heart disease. |
| are risks, and hormone therapy is not without them. | | | | One major consideration when contemplating HRT |
| What's important is that your unique health history | | | | should be whether or not you are at a higher than |
| and risk factors are discussed with your doctor to | | | | average risk of developing breast cancer. Some other |
| best determine whether or not HT or ET is the best | | | | minor factors that may increase your cancer risk are |
| option for you.Estrogens Impact on the BreastWhat | | | | weight gain and women who experience menopause |
| you have to recognize is that the scientific | | | | later in life than average.HRT - A Personal |
| community is just beginning to realize the uniqueness | | | | DecisionHRT is really a personal choice - there is no |
| of every woman's hormone profile. The effect of | | | | right or wrong answer. While some women may not |
| HRT on one of your female friends may be vastly | | | | want to accept the risks associated with HRT others |
| different from the effect they have on you. This is | | | | may want to. Each woman must decide for herself, |
| why there is such a large amount of variation in what | | | | with input from her doctor, the best course of action. |
| each woman experiences as they transition through | | | | Both patient and doctor should be comfortable with |
| menopause. This is also one of the greatest | | | | the decision to take HRT or to pursue other |
| challenges that Doctor's and Scientist face in their | | | | treatments.If you do decide to try HRT make sure |
| effort to understand the affects HRT has on the | | | | you work closely with your doctor - prescribing the |
| female breast.Probably the biggest concern women | | | | right dosage may sometimes turn into a bit of a |
| have about HRT is the increased risk of that dreaded | | | | guessing game. Keep your doctor informed as to |
| disease - Breast Cancer! Breast cancer risk, like many | | | | how you are feeling and whether or not you think it |
| diseases, increases with age for women, but it is not | | | | is helping. The best thing you can do is actually keep |
| specifically affected by menopause. Unfortunately, | | | | a journal and track the symptoms that you're hoping |
| recent studies have generated a lot of conflicting | | | | HRT will help with. The lower the dosages and the |
| data between HRT and breast cancer risk.But, | | | | shorter the duration is best if you are worried about |
| before I go into the risk of developing breast | | | | increased breast cancer risk. But again your personal |
| cancers from HRT, it is important that you | | | | situation should be discussed in detail with your |
| understand how Estrogen and Progesterone | | | | doctor, if you have another medical condition where |
| hormones affect your body, or more particularly, | | | | the benefits HRT provide outweigh the increased |
| your breasts.There are two primary thoughts on how | | | | breast cancer risk, then HRT should be considered.If |
| cancer develops in the breast. One is that cancer | | | | HRT is not for you - you are not without help. |
| tends to appear in fast growing tissue - Estrogen | | | | Thanks to all the ongoing research, new therapies |
| (and Progesterone) can cause breast tissue to grow | | | | and alternatives are being investigated every day and |
| at a faster rate - therefore this may be one way | | | | have proven successful for many women. But a |
| Estrogen is related to developing breast cancer. A | | | | word of warning - since this is a very new field, don't |
| second theory is that when estrogen is broken down | | | | necessarily believe every thing you hear and read. |
| in breast tissue the resultant compounds may bind to | | | | There are a lot of companies trying to take |
| genetic material (DNA) and damage it. Damaged DNA | | | | advantage of this relatively new market. And since a |
| is a common cause of cancers. For the moment - | | | | lot of the herbal remedies are not regulated by the |
| these are two primary theories on how HRT may | | | | FDA some companies will package almost anything |
| increase the development of breast | | | | with no regard for scientific data to back up their |
| cancer.Understand that the scientific community is | | | | claims. Look for resources that are impartial and |
| hard at work trying to unravel the link between | | | | companies that provide actual data to support what |
| Estrogen and Breast Cancer -- or if there is even | | | | they are claiming.Lastly, I personally am an advocate |
| really a link -- but good science takes time. There are | | | | of a healthy diet and active lifestyle to beat |
| so many variables (like medical history and diet) in | | | | menopausal symptoms and weight gain -- you should |
| every study that it is impossible to blame ET or HT | | | | know that every clinical study I have read has shown |
| alone for breast cancer. Although the results of many | | | | that these two factors are proven to ease the |
| clinical trials does show that HRT MAY increase the | | | | menopause transition by regulating hormones |
| risk of developing breast cancer.The Risk FactorsAs | | | | naturally. And with no increased risk of breast cancer |
| a result of the various studies and clinical trials done, | | | | -- actually eating the right foods will help prevent |
| one thing is for sure, many more studies will need to | | | | breast cancer as well as many other types of cancer |
| be done before we unravel the mystery of HRT and | | | | and disease. So regardless of your HRT decision -- |
| breast cancer. In the mean time be aware of the | | | | the first step you should take when it comes to |
| fact that: | | | | helping yourself is to eat a proper macronutrient |
| Breast cancer risk is increased with the use of ET, | | | | profile and get that body of yours moving!Jenny May |
| and to a greater extent with HT, use beyond 5 | | | | and Health Thru Fitness, LLC focus on researching, |
| years. And observational data suggest a slight | | | | developing, and implementing fitness and health |
| potential increase for breast cancer with HRT use for | | | | strategies that the menopausal woman, as well as |
| less than five years.By how much the risk is | | | | women of all ages, can apply to their current physical |
| increased is not exactly clear at this point and will | | | | status. To learn more about the Jenny May Principles |
| likely vary depending on each woman's unique genetic | | | | check out and You are welcome to use this article |
| makeup, diet and exposure to various environmental | | | | for your website or newsletter provided that you |
| factors. Obviously, the risk factor of taking HRT has | | | | include the above stated bio and website links. |