Hello,
Wondering if someone can help me please? I receive contradictory information from teams & people.
Essentially - does oestrogen cause bc? I have met 2/3 people that explain oncologists have confirmed this.
I really would like some understanding of this.
Thank you.
Hi sbee,
Thanks for your post asking about whether oestrogen causes breast cancer.
There are many risk factors and causes for breast cancer and as you say, some of the information you hear or read about may seem contradictory.
Some breast cancers use the hormones oestrogen or progesterone in the body to help them to grow. These are known as oestrogen receptor positive (ER-positive) and progesterone receptor positive (PR-positive) breast cancers.
Invasive breast cancers are tested to see if they are ER-positive or PR-positive using tissue from a biopsy or after surgery. Not all breast cancers have oestrogen receptors, but when oestrogen receptors are found in breast cancer cells, they can use oestrogen to help the breast cancer to grow.
If someone’s breast cancer is ER-positive, they will usually be offered hormone therapy as part of their treatment. Hormone therapies work in different ways to block the effect of oestrogen or reduce the amount of oestrogen in the body.
Your treatment team can confirm if a breast cancer is oestrogen receptor positive, and this information can also be found on the pathology report.
You may find it helpful to call our helpline, if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
Our number is 0808 800 6000. If you have hearing or speech difficulties dial 18001 followed by our number and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes,
Teresa
Breast Care Nurse
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