Hi, I am hearing anecdotal evidence that endometriosis is linked to BC, especualy in younger women, other countries combine Gynae and breast care services and im interested exploring this further.
Also if high oestrogen is a risk factor why isnt there a simple test similar to a cholesterol test?.
Any comments would be helpful.
Thanknyou
Welcome to the forum @mjb .This might be question that the breast cancer now nurses could answer?
You could post in the Ask our Nurses your questions. section of the forum .
Thank you, unfortunately I have been asking medical professionals this question and rhe answer is always that there is no link.
However so many ER+ women advise that they have/had endometriosis, and as i say other countries combine gynae and BC clinics due to the oestrogen component.
Hello @mjb - thanks for this post.
I believe this is (atleast partly) the case for me & feel incredibly angry, disappointed & let down by the fact that given all the research I have done - there is a link with my hormones.
I have had this challenge for a very long time - being diagnosed with endometriosis at around 2015. A disease driven by high oestrogen levels. Something never shared with me by the medical profession.
I had been feeling incredibly exhausted & almost fainted at a gig in November. I paid £150 for a blood test privately with the feedback that my testosterone was worryingly high & that I should see a GP about it as it could be indicative of PCOS.
I went to the GP who referred me to gynaecology. She spent the whole appointment lecturing me about my age (38 at the time) & that I needed to decide my pathway regarding children which pissed me off.
The ultrasound of my womb came back with fibroids (again indicative of high oestrogen levels) but explained she wouldn’t operate on this unless children were planned. I remember discussing this with a male friend who suggested that I just lie but had strong views around this. Wish I hadn’t now.
She was also frustrated I had paid for a private blood test. & asked me if BC was in the family. (Grandma)
YES - she referred me for additional blood tests & due to losing my job etc, I didn’t go. (The length of the queue was also out the door so planned to go back.)
However, I find it absolutely shocking that given that i had high oestrogen, high testosterone (off the scale) & BC in the family that this was not highlighted as a risk to me. ALL the research I have done since indicates they are related.
4 months later - I had BC.
I’ve done a lot of research on this and the fact of the matter is that we only have theories on what is causing the rise of breast cancer in younger women. No facts yet. The going one I’ve read though, one that I think has a lot of support, is that we have too many endocrine disruptors now. Too much alcohol consumption in younger women is also thrown around but personally I don’t think that is driving it. At least not completely. But endocrine disruptors may cause high estrogen or unusually uneven levels and that may contribute to endometriosis. And possibly cause breast cancer. I have PCOS and we also see the same link. But the only thing we know for sure is that it isn’t our fault.
Hi @Kay0987 - Yes, I agree and understand. I have been vegi my entire life, very fit & holistic (minus wine i guess!) & it has still got me. I do feel there is a link for me with endometriosis.
Has anyone else experienced similar? Xx