Medical experts at Rejuvime Medical dive deep into the connection between estrogen therapy and breast cancer.
Today we’re diving into a topic that is both critical and complex, and that is estrogen therapy in relation to breast cancer. I’m Holly Valentine. I’m the lead medical provider Rejuvime Medical. I’m Amy Patterson. I’m the medical provider at our Shreveport location. And I’m Alli Hansell. I’m the medical provider at our D’Iberville Mississippi location. All right, Amy, give us an overview and understanding on estrogen replacement therapy. So estrogen replacement therapy is part of hormone replacement. It helps treat symptoms of perimenopause and menopause: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness. It also is cardioprotective and helps with bone density. However, the conversation about estrogen usually brings up the risk of breast cancer. So this is where things get a bit nuanced. Research has shown that estrogen therapy, when combined with synthetic progesterone, can increase the risk of breast cancer. Right, and it’s important to note that that’s only in some individuals and that risk is relative to their personal history, their family history, like you said. Also, what’s very important is the type of estrogen. So most of these studies were done using conjugated estrogens, which are synthetic and made from horse urine. These are not the same as what our body makes naturally or bioidentical estrogen, which is what we typically use when we’re treating patients. So one of the great things about Rejuvime Medical is our personalized approach. We sit our patients down, we go through their medical history, we also go through their family history, and then we’ll look at their labs and recommend that treatment for them. And one of the most important things to decrease your risk is having regular screening mammograms. That way, if something did occur, it’s caught early and can be treated. Right, and women should be doing that whether they are on hormone therapy or not. Yes. All right, ladies, this is crucial to balance out this conversation. While there are some potential risks with estrogen therapy, there are many significant improvements to quality of life with women that are taking estrogen. Exactly. Severe menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, can really decrease quality of life. Absolutely. The key is informed decision-making. It’s very important that we make a collaborative treatment plan for these patients and that, again, they follow up on those screenings as they are due. So, what advice would you give to a woman who’s considering estrogen therapy? I would advise them to make sure that you’re doing monthly self-breast exams and you’re getting that mammogram every year. Absolutely. Definitely, that’s very important. Also, just be upfront and honest with us. Tell us your, you know, family history. That’s very important. If there is any type of breast cancer in your family, if it’s BRCA-based, like that gene, or if it’s hormonal-based, it’s very important for us to know that. If you have any questions or you’re considering estrogen replacement therapy, reach out to us at Rejuvime Medical or visit our website, rejuvimemedical.com.
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