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au0rei
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Joined 9 years ago
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Re: HRT (Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone Replacement Therapy) After cancer for menopause?
I found chemo the harshest for me. Had massive hives when I did the third round. Hair loss which was expected. Badly fluid retention in my legs after each chemo which gives me stiff knees even up till now. And my finger nails suffered almost came off. But today they are fine, collagen powder helps. I think till today I still experienced some bone pain or stiffness. And ended up with dry eye syndrome now where I have to resort to eye drops daily. I lost my periods for a year or so. But eventually went into early menopause last few years. Otherwise, I am fine.227Views0likes0CommentsRe: HRT (Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone Replacement Therapy) After cancer for menopause?
@sek17 I am so sorry for all that you have gone through. It is really difficult. You shared that you had mastectomy done on the affected breast and it had a recurrence? What explanation did the doctor give you? Not clear margins done? With HRT unfortunately I decided to stop it in the end, after giving it two tries over a few months and resetting my body twice. It just does not work for me in the end because I was all jittery and a wreck being on it. Even though I was already on the lowest dose ever. I personally am a strong believer that hormones do not cause cancer but may cause faster tumour growth due to the receptor matter. But you have to do your own research. I had hormone negative breast cancer. Also, I believe exercises such as weight training, resistance training will help. There is some who talk about using vibration machine (something I have not yet researched) I am just so busy these two years with my kids to have time to properly take care of myself! Haha! I do make sure I am faithful with my Vitamin D, K and I do take soy powder with my morning almond milk. And I try to walk more. Most importantly, take care of our heart/spirit. I am a strong believer that my state of heart made me sick with cancer few years ago. All the best xo21Views0likes0CommentsRe: HRT (Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone Replacement Therapy) After cancer for menopause?
Hi everybody, sorry for the very very late reply. Life was so busy! @Greengirl @Abbydog oh my it was such a journey these two years trying HRT! I managed to have a nice GP who put me onto Estradiol and Prometrium in May last year (2023) but it was a horrible experience. I had dizzy spells and my body became jittery and I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. My mind was super foggy. I realized that the dose was too high (I was on 100 Prometrium and 25 then 75 Estradiol). I also got my periods back. So I completely abandoned HRT to reset my body. I felt much better after all the hormones cleared my system. I think Prometrium is the one causing most of the problems. I did go to see a cardiologist to do a heart scan to make sure my heart is fine.. it was some calcium score test which is out of pocket completely. And I did a DEXA scan showing that I am a little osteopenic. I did all these because i understand that lack of estrogen can possibly cause heart attacks, alzhemier's and osteoporosis, so I did a baseline check. The doctors don't tell us!!! We have to educate ourselves!!! Later in the year in November I had a GP put in a Mirena instead and I decided to see how I was going with it since it is meant to be confined in the womb but it actually does travel around the body. I did not start on Estradiol straight away, just the Mirena for around two months. Pretty soon after the Mirena was inserted, I started to feel horrible again. Brain fog, jittery shaky body especially my arms and hands and they felt weak. Weird symptoms indeed but I was very sure it was due to the Progesterone from the Mirena. But, I understand it takes around 3 months to settle so I persisted. At some point I really felt like getting the Mirena removed and just forget about HRT! At times I really feel like I am falling apart. Towards end of second month, I decided to use the Estradiol patches but very low dose. I actually cut the 75 patches into quarters (I know the patches come standard size but I needed to adjust my body from a low dose onwards!!!). I do feel that my body feels better! Right before I started the patches, I did see an OB and she told me that the lack of Estrogen could be why my body is reacting like this and it seems that she is right! I am on very low dose of estrogen since then and I feel better, the shaking jittery has improved more and my brain is somewhat better! The annoying thing is I get tiny bit of periods once I started the estrogen patches and I am on very low dose, so I am gonna tweak my dose till it is perfect. It was pretty much trial and error and I had moments when I wanted to just cry and give up!!! However, I keep telling myself I need the estrogen for my bone density and heart and brain! I have also gone to see my chemo oncologist to get a letter advising that I am perfectly fit for HRT. But note, I did have hormone negative HER 2+ cancer. I do not believe estrogen causes cancer! However, it may promote cancer growth. So please do your own research. Sorry for the long post but I hope it helps!!! Good luck with your journey! And please do record all the details on a notebook so you can always refer back and see how you go xoxo3Views1like0CommentsRe: Ways to lower cortisol.
FLClover said: @au0rei I recently watched a docuseries that talked about the importance of diet and exercise in warding off cancer and illness too. Like you, I’ve always known exercise is beneficial but it was explained so well in this docu that I joined the gym soon after 😄. I’m not a fan of the gym and have only been a regular once before I got pregnant, but have now signed up again. I’ve been trying to do other exercise outside the gym, but I think I’ll be more disciplined and consistent like this. I also recently bought a rebounder that I jump on about 10 mins a day, to help activate my lymphatic system. It’s time to get really serious about my health 😄😁. Ahhh so good to hear that! I used to use a rebounder too! I bought a BOSU recently. It's been fun trying to balance on it for a minute per leg. As we grow older we must work on our balance too! Do I sound like I am very old? Bahahahahaha...9Views1like0CommentsRe: Ways to lower cortisol.
Afraser said: Nevertheless we tend to outlive men. One of the key changes has been the massive reduction in women dying in or due to childbirth over the last century or so. Some thing do get better! Oh wow I totally agree! How scary it was for women when science wasn't so advanced! :'(14Views0likes0CommentsRe: Ways to lower cortisol.
So good that it can be 'use it and you won't lose it!' haha! I really see how even important our muscles are right now! And yes @Afraser even for our brains too! More women gets Alzheimer's Disease than men! And it is a killer that not a lot of people talk about. The early onset AD is now getting more common it is scary! We women really go through a lot!60Views0likes0CommentsRe: Ways to lower cortisol.
Often for me life gets busy and I tend to let exercise take the lowest priority. I know in my head that exercise is good but knowing exactly how it benefits me gives me more motivation to prioritise it. I like to know the science of it, that's just me hehe. So in this documentary, the scientist shares evidence that eg when we work out, our muscles produce myokines which can have anti-cancer effect. One of them is called Sparc and it actually targets any bad cells in the colon thereby fighting against colorectal cancer from forming. I found that mindblowing. I have never heard that until I watched it in this documentary. That sure gave me some motivation to exercise! :D Another scientist shared the science of how muscle mass (especially for those of us who are are older) helps with insulin sensitivity. I only knew that exercise increases insulin sensitivity but never really know how it all works. As we grow older we lose muscle mass and having muscle mass (which can be maintained by exercise) helps with warding off diabetes.13Views1like0Comments
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Choosing breast reconstruction
PRIVATE GROUP. Choosing breast reconstruction after single or double mastectomy can feel overwhelming, and deeply personal. This group is here to connect you through others' stories and images. Please respect everyone’s privacy—do not copy or share content outside this space. Information is based on personal experience and is not medical advice; always consult your healthcare team for guidance. ⚠️CONTENT WARNING⚠️ Members may share photos of breast surgeries. These images or discussions may be distressing or triggering for some. If you need support, please contact the BCNA Helpline - we are here for you.Christianity & breast cancer
This group offers a welcoming place to share how your Christian faith supports you through the breast cancer journey. Connect with others who find comfort and strength in Scripture, prayer, and reflection. Whether you're seeking encouragement, community, or a place to explore spiritual resilience, you're warmly invited to join in fellowship and support. Prayers and Bible study are welcome.
