I have DCIS, had WLE 03/07 and waiting for final histopathology and further treatment.
I am coping on some days and on some I am sinking. Now all my meno symptoms are back. Sweats, disrupted sleep, joints pain, low mood on top of anxiety of diagnosis. I felt so good on HRT but ca cells were ER+ on biopsy. Now HRT is out of the question.
How are others managing?
Ania
Hi Anita
You may want to read Oestrogen Matters by Dr Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris PHD
He speaks about HRT after Breast Cancer, it’s worth a read!!
Trish
If you have a Maggie’s centre near you it’s worth asking if they offer a menopause workshop. I attended one last month and it was so helpful, not only the advice given by a GP and the Maggie’s team but meeting others going through the same thing and getting tips and support from them. It’s for ladies going through menopause symptoms for whatever reason and any age.
Ania, you are not alone. Stopping HRT is bad enough but the hormone drugs make it even worse. The cure for all the symptoms is oestrogen and we can’t have it. We are led to believe that there’s a choice between poor quality of life and recurrence but in reality, for most people, there won’t be a recurrence. Sorry, not helpful but there it is. Many of us are struggling x
I wish there were more sophisticated risk scores…Blood tests you could do even monthly …. I have read Dr Avram Blumng book Oestrogen Matters I listened to Dr Newson podcasts. But now as it’s very fresh I am SO SO scared that I can’t even consider … But QOL a trade off, that’s insane, medicine still very very crude.
My after op results this Thu. I am very anxious and no psychotherapy. Then I will know further treatment.
Hi @aniat
I had bilateral breast cancer (2 primary tumours in each breast) had surgery, chemo and Herceptin (3 more to go), radiotherapy and Letrozole from January this year.
I was on HRT before the diagnosis and had to come off due to ER+, all the symptoms came back with even worse than before. I had been off HRT 18 months and had mentioned vaginal dryness, urge incontinence , UTIs and pain starting chemotherapy and then again after finishing. I was already using Yes moisturiser and lubricant. I had horrendous hot flushes up to 7 at night and didn’t sleep for months. I have aches and pains, memory problems.
I was referred to a menopause clinic but after 4 months I decided to go private. I saw the same doctor that does the NHS clinic. I was prescribed Fezolinetant (Vesoa) and now the hot flushes have nearly disappeared. I have had to pay privately for this but hopefully it will be on the NHS in January 2024. I have a few but for less time and intensity. We discussed quality of life and decided imvaggis (lowest dose of oestrogen) was an option, she also recommended Blissel for the outer area using a pea sized amount (much less than the internal dose on the leaflet).
In November 2023 a new study was published saying vaginal oestrogen was tested with breast cancer patients taking Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors (Letrozole/anastrazole). See below.
Conclusions and Relevance Results of this study showed no evidence of increased early breast cancer–specific mortality in patients who used vaginal estrogen therapy compared with patients who did not use HRT. This finding may provide some reassurance to prescribing clinicians and support the guidelines suggesting that vaginal estrogen therapy can be considered in patients with breast cancer and genitourinary symptoms.
I also attended a Maggie’s menopause session which was very helpful and all the above was discussed. An oncology nurse specialist took the session and said that not all menopause specialist understand the breast cancer aspects and that some oncologists will just say no.
The menopause specialist has worked hard to share the new studies with oncologists and considers the Predict score ( you can work out your own below but your MDT would have used it to decide on your treatment plan. The specialist contact my team to confirm the Predict score to finish the percentage benefit of Letrozole for me. We also talked about a possible break from the drug to see if symptoms persist, but I’m trying the additional medication first to give myself the best chance.
As far as getting good information online Dr Liz O’Riordan is great, a breast surgeon who’s had breast cancer herself. As well as https://menopauseandcancer.org/ who regularly have accredited contributors on their podcast. Dani Binnington has had breast cancer herself
I’ve listened to Dr Louise Newson for years but I’m not sure she ‘gets’ the risks of breast cancer. She likes to say that breast cancer was once treated with Oestrogen, well it might have been but it’s not now. There is a reason for this. Cancer treatment has changed over time, new nd better drugs. I like everyone is worried about heart issues and dementia with oestrogen but I don’t want the cancer back either.
It’s not easy, everyone needs to make their own choices, with the help from their cancer team.
You can call the BCN nurse to talk through anything 0808 800 6000 or contact https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ as they can offer free counselling.
Take care 
@naughty_boob Thank you so much for extensive and informative response!
So much appreciated.
I am following Dr Liz O’Riordan, too ( can’t believe now for my own reason, she was a motivational speaker few years ago at my NHS work event). I will check Predict tool.
That’s great news that vaginal oestrogen also helps with hot flushes/ quality of sleep.
Have you noticed ANY help with joints pain?
I am only 51. And now started feeling like an old person ( and yes thought I got my life back when on HRT 
) The irony of fate. And the memory, only yesterday I forgot medication I have to take for other LTC.
I wish you luck with your treatment and alleviation of symptoms with options chosen. Thank you 
so much xx
I found the only thing that helps with joint pain is paracetamol, massage of muscles in the area and moving around.
I know I put a lot on information in my reply and hope it helps others, that there are things you can do to keep on the cancer prevention medicines.
Thank you again for menopause and cancer link, it’s a gem.