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