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