I just read a small blurb in my paper that said a study out of Chicago indicates that women who had tender breasts at times during HRT supplementing were 2x as likely to get breast cancer. They didn't say if it's bio or regular. But now that my breasts are beginning to bother me it has me scared.

Anyone have input on this?

There has always been a link to HRT and breast and gyn cancers.
If you are taking HRT I think you should have already become comfortable with your decision to do so and accepted there would be a small risk.
It's all about quality of life isn't it? If you are feeling well on HRT why would you want to stop or worry?

In my case I have the reverse situation.
My surgeon wanted me to take HRT because I don't have my ovaries, as protection for my bones and general wellbeing. However I feel so ill on it that I am not taking it because my overall quality of life is better without it. Hey-ho

If I were you I wouldn't worry too much.
The papers are always full of scare stories and what will kill you one week is the best thing ever the week after!

janet c

I've had breast cancer so I wont touch them. Whos to say if my Stage 0 non-invasive cancer would have been worse if I'd chosen HRT .. not a risk Im willing to take.

The study they were looking at is the original WHI study, which utilized Prempro and a placebo and was halted in 2002. Researchers poured over the data recently looking at those who developed breast cancer and those who did not. The only hrt used in this large study was estrogen plus progestin.

Good point Gevalia.
My surgeon told me that he was happy for me to take estrogen forever if I wished as I don't have a uterus and therefore don't need progesterone. It is the two together which increase the breast cancer risk.

Ironically using estrogen without progesterone increases the endometrial cancer risk. So you are at risk of a cancer either way if you still have a uterus.
It is therefore up to each individual to decide if the risk is offset by the benefits.

Everything we do in life carries a risk, doesn't it?
I know that if I could take estrogen now, even after having cancer 4 years ago I would be prepared to take a risk for my quality of life. It makes me feel dreadfully ill so I can't but I don't feel fantastic without it as I have libido and vaginal problems and my skin is going downhill fast.

janet c

From what I understand it is estrogen and progestin not natural progesterone that was used in the WHI study. And, if you're taking estrogen you should be using progesterone (natural) to create a balance and not become estrogen dominant.
It's much more complicated than this of course.

Thank you all. I was wondering if it was a new study or something. I take progesterone too, but have just switched to the OTC brand. I may get a compounded cream next. I tried Prometrium for 10 months and I thought it may have caused all my weight gain so I stopped it.

Today I'm getting a pain in my left calf, but I've had that pain over the years once in awhile even before taking bio HRT, so it could just be a hormonal thing all on its own.