Hormone Replacement and Breast Cancer Risks

I am 56 and have a history of fibro-cystic breast disease (which really isn’t a disease as much as a condition of the breast-but it makes it difficult to feel other lumps in the breast that might be sinister.) I get yearly mammograms. Recently I discovered a lump the size of a quail’s egg in one of my breasts–went right in to see my Dr. who right away suspected a cyst, and then told me to “get off the coffee!” (coffee consumption often plays a role in fibro-cystic bd). The Dr. was right and I was relieved, but I was shook enough to cut back on the caffeine to just one cup a day. I never thought I had the will power to give it up-my last vice, but funny what being shook up enough will do to a person. I find that I am doing ok with out too much of the stuff. Also, Ioradol (potassium-iodine) has been found to help with breast cysts. So, for the past week I have been taking that. Thanks to Ann-Marie for this info. And I also added Maca powder (1/2 tsp in POM juice) a day. It has a flavor that passes description, but in juice it is ok. I think Maca helps with energy, adrenal support (which coffee exhausts). So yes, I think getting a yearly mammo is important. At least for me.

I have been able to drink my two cups of morning coffee again after a month on Iodoral. The nutritionist said coffee just aggravates an iodine deficiency in breast cysts but if I supplemented iodine I didn’t need to worry. So far she’s right. I wish I had the iodine information ten years ago.

I took Maca and it was great for energy for a week, and then it didn’t feel right. I may restart it again.

My mom was diagnosed via mammo with breast cancer she didn’t know she had. Because they caught it so early, she was able to go w/only radiation. She’s fine now, almost 5 years cancer free.

My paternal grandmother died from breast cancer.

After saying all of this, I don’t want to get mammograms. I truly believe that mammos increase the risk of breast cancer. However, I did get one last year. Why? My dad and my husband nag and nag and nag and rant and rave and basically make me feel guilty for not getting one. I know, I’m lame.

I don’t know what the solution is. My mom swears she got b.c. from taking hormone therapy when she went into menopause. A friend of mine whose mother died says the exact same thing. There’s got to be a direct link to it.

Motherhen68’s last blog post..

Hi, again! Julie’s comment reminded me of a situation I had several years ago where I had the fibrocystic thing going on. In fact, I found a lump on each side that scared us — probably about the same “quail egg” size. I went in and found out they were both cysts — but it was pretty scary after both grandmas had breast cancer. I don’t think we did anything with them at the time.

Later I was using the bioidentical progesterone cream to try and solve some health problems. In a week I noticed that my fibrocysts were gone! I kept taking the cream for some time and my other symptoms persisted so eventually I stopped. I drink coffee all the time but the lumpiness has not returned. It may only be coincidence, and I haven’t researched it, but I think it helped. (It would seem to agree with Kristin’s thought of giving the body a break from too much estrogen.)

I haven’t checked into the availability and cost of thermography in our area (Moorhead, MN — generally not too much available that isn’t mainstream — but it’s improving) but our insurance doesn’t do much for us anyway with its high deductible. We also paid to have our son at home even though our insurance probably would’ve helped with that. Of course, every expense like that has to be weighed with the economy the way it is and our income the way it is.

I love all this feedback! Thanks again for a great site!

The cost for thermography is roughly $250 for full front and $425 for front and back. Thermography can be used to monitor and diagnose a multitude of conditions without the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation which, in reality, only causes cancers to proliferate.

Kelly,

Are you familiar with Jerry Brunetti? He has made a study of alternative cancer treatment and also of lifestyle choices that deter cancer. His DVD, “Cancer, Nutrition, and Healing,” among tons of good info, gives ideas of what kinds of dietary things can work with Chemo and what things interfere with it. So even for someone who may not be open to totally alternative therapies, he gives a range of ideas one might try.

Acres Mag web site has a whole list of his audio tapes.
http://www.acresusa.com/tapes/thumbnail.asp?catid=48&pcid=3

And it looks as though the following blog has many of his videos able to be viewed on line, although I did not try any of the links there.
http://1phil4everyill.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/jerry-brunetti-food-as-medicine-22-99/

I have been pregnant and nursing for 16 years (10 babies, thanks be to God! first one at 26). I haven’t done self-exams for years because my breasts are constantly changing because of the pregnancy/nursing stuff. When I mentioned this to my Dr., he assured me that my risk of breast cancer is about as low as it can get. But added that of course, I could be one of the whatever fraction of a percent that does get it. But he does not recommend mammograms at 40 unless he sees a strong risk factor. He also does not see a need for other screenings that some Drs insist upon. So I feel fortunate to have such a Dr.

Cheeseslave, I am confused by your comment; please clarify.

“I believe this is because when we are pregnant and when we breastfeed, it depletes our bodies of iodine. So we need to supplement to increase iodine. It is iodine deficiency that causes cysts in the breasts.”

If iodine is good for breasts and bad for cancer, does it follow that women who are pregnant and breastfeeding and therefore allegedly depleting their iodine would have lower breast cancer risk? Probably I misunderstood your point; I am curious about how all this holds together.

Flo, You’re from Moorhead? Are you staying dry? We live about 1.5 hrs NE of you and have been listening to AM1100 coverage of the flooding. Wow! what a scary situation.

Kelly,

If you have thermography, could you please give us all the scoop on what you think of it on this thread? I don’t know anyone personally that’s had it and this is the part of your site that I see most.

Many thanks!

Kelly, I just want you to think of one thing when you are debating about getting your mammogram. There are risks to anything like that and I know you have to consider them all but I have several friends who are here today because of their mammogram. Their cancer was not large enough to be felt with a breast exam but was detected on their mammogram. It was caught early and three of the 4 our currently cancer free. The 4th person was in remission from her breast cancer and it returned elsewhere and is currently battling her cancer recurrence.

I faithfully have mine every year but I have a strong family history of cancer.

Just one more thing to think about. . .

I think it’s important to know what your next step would be. How far are you prepared to go? If they find “something,” do you do a needle biopsy (have you read up about that?) Wait and test again (are you able to wait without worrying yourself sick?) If it is cancer, do you do chemo? Radiation? Hormones? I think the line is drawn in a different place for each of us and we need to be aware of the issues before making a decision on where our line lies.

As far as what if I was the one saved, my line is drawn on the side of non-intervention. Crestor, Zenical, all the big heavy hitting drugs out there have proven that they help one or they wouldn’t be sold. But how many did they harm (either through unneeded drug expense or side effect) to get to the one.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I think breast cancer is terrible, as are all cancers. I know it strikes more than it *should* and it frustrates the scientist in me to not understand why. But I think this one cancer in particular preys on our vulnerability as women, the sensitivities we have toward the childbearing-parts of our bodies, our vanity and our fears that we might not live to see our children grow up.

I think we all need to step back, take a moment and breathe, look at the real risk factors and find our “lines.” Women of faith have a great resource in prayer.

Local Nourishment’s last blog post..“Studies of ‘good’ fat could help with weight loss”

I believe my daughter was cured of cancer using nutrition and supplementation. Yes, we did chemo but of all the children I saw on the Hem/Onc floor and all the children/adults whose blogs I read Jillian did the best of all of them AND we stopped chemo 3 months early (we wanted to stop 4 months prior but the docs told us they would call CPS).

I personally know a woman named Nancy Morton that cured her own lung cancer using nutrition. She called me when she was diagnosed and I gave her some ideas and she did her own research as well. She did take some oral chemo but her chances of survival were still 2%. Eight weeks later they did a CT scan and there was nothing there.

My question is “What would you do differently if they found a lump during your mammogram?” Why aren’t you doing that already?

TeamBettendorf’s last blog post..Quilt Mania

I’m 45 and my doctors have been pushing mammograms since I turned 40 even though I have no family history (though I understand genetics is really only a factor in about 10% of cases so it’s really not the big deal it’s made out to be). I have always refused to have one siting the many risks but I did recently have my 1st thermogram ($150 for 6 angles). I’m all about non-invasive safe options. I had recently found a lump in my breast and now realize there is also NO WAY I would ever undergo chemo or radiation. SCARY! In my opinion, they are much too risky, ineffective and very damaging. That kind of treatment scares me much more than breast cancer! Fortunately it seems as though my lump was mearly a breast cyst (though I still don’t like the idea of even a cyst) as it was undetectable at my next breast exam. so I’ve increased my intake of Iodoral (iodine/iodide) to 3 pills a day and will soon go to 4 per day just to be on the safe side. This seems like a much wiser, safer option than conventional means. In about 3-4 weeks I’m due for another thermogram and then will have them annually thereafter. Seems like a very reasonable cost and well worth it.

If you have very specific questions about your risk with any of these, seeing a naturopath who knows you and your body is the most important thing.

Regarding hormones and breast cancer, there are some concerns. This is particularly true if you have (or you family has had) an estrogenic breast cancer. Not all of them are related to estrogen levels but those that are can be very sensitive to any sort of estrogenic compound–this can include any chemical that mimics estrogen in the body.

Having said that, there are hormone replacements that are safer. Naturopaths use bio identical hormones which can be safer than synthetics. Also, acupuncturists use some herbs, which according to Giovanni Maccioccia (I think I have all the c’s right–who is a well known famous, respected herbalist and acupuncturist) they are not estrogenic, although they do help with the perimenopausal symptoms.

As far as mammograms go–any time you expose yourself to radiation, you have the potential to cause a problem. However, early detection is the best way to beat breast cancer and a mammogram can detect it early. Thermograms can be helpful but I have seen few studies, although many naturopaths really like them. It can be difficult to find someone who does these though.

Locally, in the state of Washington I have several alternative care providers I can recommend who work with women with breast cancer and they have many successful outcomes. Most of these work WITH MD’s so that each patient gets the best of all possible worlds. How aggressive treatments should be would depend upon the actual cancer diagnosis (stage it is caught in and the aggressiveness of cancer). There are MDs who work well with alternative providers and others who won’t hear of it.

Most MD’s are okay with acupuncture (if skeptical at times), however many do not want their patients doing any other herbs or supplements while on chemo. Most practitioners treat the side effects of chemotherapy so that the patients are healthier going through the process traditional process.

My first chiropractor always told patients she healed herself of cancer through diet. I did not know her at that time in her life so I have no idea the type of cancer or the extent to which it had invaded her body. Other diseases prevented her from continuing work many years after the cancer.

(No time to read all previous posts – sorry! Look at Apricot Kernels as a preventative.) Mom and Grandma both died of cancer. Both had HRT in menopause years, both developed breast cancer, both had mastectomy. Grandma had radiation (and chemo?), mom had chemo, BOTH lived another 5 years before the cancer showed up in the bones & organs. Mom refused chemo the second time around, and chose to travel down to Guatemala for treatment with herbs. Unfortunately, my dadbe cane very I’ll around that time, so her treatment was cut short by her need to come home & be with him. Mom reported that while receiving treatments, she felt that she was being cured, but that the cancer was too far along for the herbs to keep up. I have also heard from a Peruvian Medicine Man that these herbal cures are better as an early stage treatment for cancer (but miracles do happen). While she was there, my mother saw all kinds of diseases being cured with traditional remedies, which pleased her to no end. However, in almost every case of advanced disease, the people did not respond as well. My point here is that early detection is key to survival, and there are plenty of ways to go about healing the body. Another point to remember is the origin of cancer may well lie in our emotional and mental attitudes – meaning that if we fail to make the necessary changes in ourselves, there may be no escaping it despite physical treatments.

Sleep; is vital and I have written a post breast cancer, sleep and the detrimental effects of lack of sleep.
My site also has information about synthetic chemicals and bisphenol A and the probable link with synthetic chemical bombardment from cookware, cosmetics to packaging of food.
The Breast cancer page on Actual Organics’ website: http://ow.ly/OBP0
My advice is just that.. advice, I am not a doctor!

No wireless internet
Avoid cordless phones
No under-wired bras.
Practice relaxation; if that is a long walk and appreciating nature then that is good, equally some find knitting relaxing. Do not worry about the things one cannot change.
Avoid, as much as possible tinned food- due to bisphenol A
Avoid cleaning products that are not bicarb and vinegar or BioPure.
Avoid any personal care products that are not certified organic, Miessence is a good example of spa quality organic skin creams.
Bed by 10pm. Read a relaxing book before bed. Journal feelings even if you don’t understand them right now.
Draw or Paint; even if it is with childrens coloured text pens, what are you sensing right now? what picture conveys that and draw it.
Practice Feldenkrais- mind/body/spirit emotions work and is stunningly good as unraveling the real issues behind what we are feeling in our lives. http://www.feldenkrais.com
Nurture self; enjoy appreciating the body, be grateful, the body is amazing on daily basis, appreciate your wonderful body…even in the state of current dis-ease.

Kelly, We have no wireless in our home, everything is corded, I feel that until we know more I am not a guinea pig. I choose to not wear underwired. I buy tomatoes in glass jars in winter. I start going to bed at 10pm, not always achieved!
I practice Feldenkrais most days and it is like a massage but also great on the self awareness which is not always easy but effective when practiced. I use CDs that are often 18 mins long. See About me page under Feldenkrais on my site.
I believe prayer is part of a healthy life, some call it meditation, I call it prayer; spending time listening to my body, thoughts, and God.
I use certified organic skin care, as you know as I sell it! and I do journal, so yes in answer to your question I do these things. The days when I don’t do them I, I am gentle on myself and accept that I can’t do everything! Some nights we have chicken stock soup, and the next night, soup with onions and grated cheese. Some nights a boiled egg!
Blessings, Joanna