http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-...-ALL-CLEAR.html

I saw this yesterday and thought that it might interest some of you.

Last year my GYN recommeded that I try HRT. The family breast cancer link meant that it was a definate no for me. I'm just confused.

That is a very interesting article and through all the many hours of reading and research I did on my own, that was the conclusion that I came to. I use Estrogel and prometrium without shame. I feel so much better, and I mean SO MUCH BETTER that I can not imagine my life without it. I went through menopause at 46 - 47 and I believe the health risks for me were higher not to take it, than they were taking it.

I hope more of you out there read that article!!

All this information sure is a prescription for confusion! I read another article about two weeks ago that indicated that bio HRT had the same risks as synthetic HRT. Seems like all these people are making statements with nothing to back them up. What we need are studies that are controlled and can come to some real meaningful conclusions. It is mind-boggling that after the "flawed" WHI study, that this is not a higher priority.

This is all so confusing.......and frustrating!!!

TOTALLY CONFUSED I AM TRYING NOT TO TAKE HRT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS I HAVE BREAST CANCER IN FAMILY WHICH SCARES ME.....

Hi Lizard:

I'm with you . That is, totally confused and with breast cancer in my family (my mom - survivor thank g-d). anyway I did try hormone therapy for about 6 weeks when my symptoms were unbearable and things got so much better. Not perfect mind you, but so much better, I was taking biest/progesterone sublingual bhrt with the help of Pete @ Bellevue and I was less anxious, happier, much clearer mentally and my memory was definitely better. Once I felt better I thought maybe it was "self-sustaining" and I became freaked out about the breast cancer risk and stopped. Now I can feel that the bhrt is totally out of my system and there is a definite change for the worse.

One must make this choice which is so difficult given the data available which is useless as it continually contradicts itself.

Good luck in your search and reach out to me anytime.

xoxoxox Pooks

PS - my belief is that environmental factors (pollution, radiation, food contamination, over-exposure to electrical fields, etc.) and genetics play a large part in the incidence of breast cancer and hormones may only be one part of the story so that is why the data are so unclear and contradictory.

Pookish, I agree. I think our environment and the chemical laden foods we eat are much more dangerous to our health than hormones. I believe High Fructose Corn Syrup is the cause of most of our obesity. It's in everything. And as for menopause, I think we struggle more than our parents and grandparents before us due to all the chemicals and hormones injected into our cattle, chickens, sprayed upon our fruits and vegetables. My mom doesn't even remember going through menopause. She says she never had hot flashes or anything memorable going on. Just one day she stopped having menses. I'm not even sure my grandmother knows what it is. But to be fair, they also had multiple pregnancies and I've heard that makes it easier.

Of course, it wouldn't be fair not to mention all the progress and good that has also come out of our generation. We have greatly benefited from the industrialization of our country and I would not want to go back to the horse and carriage days. But for myself, I want to be cautious to use what is good from our generation but also remember that our ancestors had some good ideas too. Mostly to cook real foods, be physically active and to experience our own life more than watching about others on a box.

OK... stepping off my soap box now.