Estrogen and Breast Cancer: Is it Friend or Foe?

Estrogen Has Made A Name For Itself In Breast Cancer’s Book, But Bioidentical Hormone Therapy In Golden, CO, Can Help You In The Fight Against Breast Cancer.

When you think of estrogen, you typically think of it as a foe, considering your risk of breast cancer increases when you produce estrogen for longer and/or in higher amounts.

Hormone fluctuations stimulate cancer growth as it encourages cell division proliferation.

That’s not quite the case when it comes to bioidentical hormone therapy in Golden, CO. Before you take our word for it, however, let us educate you a little about how researchers weigh in on the debate.

Hormone replacement therapy has a powerful impact on health and wellness, and even your breast cancer risk.

When Estrogen Therapy Was the Bad Guy

Estrogen replacement therapy was touted as a way to reduce health risks, such as cardiovascular disease, in women and save them from the discomforts associated with pre-menopause and menopause.

When It Got a Bad Reputation

A jolt to this prescribing practice happened in 2002 when the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) published a study that showed estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might not be such a good guy and actually increased the risk of breast cancer.

This was a stir to what everyone thought they knew about this therapy. The news spread rapidly and caused a wave of women discontinuing their treatment, with about 70 to 80 percent of patients who used it turning their backs on it.

In the past, this therapy hadn’t been known to increase a woman’s risk, let alone contribute to cancer deaths. However, this study didn’t show the same information we thought we knew.

Everything Wasn’t What It Seemed

But it’s not as scary as it sounds. The subjects who were part of the research had factors that were predispositions for breast cancer.

“Why does that matter?” you ask.

For one, the average age of participants was 63, and that age bracket has a higher risk naturally, as noted by the National Cancer Institute.

These women were also on HRT about 10 years after menopause. Not to mention, many of them had underlying health issues that increased their vulnerability.

And not everyone was on the therapy consistently. Some were on it before, and some weren’t, which makes a difference because timing matters with HRT. Plus, tolerance can develop in those who’ve used it previously.

Not to mention, not all these women were on the same regimen of hormones, with only some of them taking a synthetic form of progesterone (progestin) along with the estrogen.

The study indicated the real threat was when estrogen wasn’t used alone. The ones taking estrogen solely had a 20 percent lower likelihood of breast cancer, and the placebo group had similar results.

The ones who used a combination of the two appeared to have an elevated risk, but that increase was minute, with only one case per 1,000 patient-years. The ones who were using it before or during menopause didn’t have that raised chance of cancer.

Progesterone Isn’t the Menace Either Anymore

Research conducted 20 years later by the WHI showed the estrogen-only group had a 40% reduction in death from this cancer.

That sounds like the estrogen link with breast cancer was all a bunch of unwarranted hype. It makes you feel sorry for all the ladies who gave up their therapy and suffered from night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings needlessly.

Before you make a snap judgment about progestin, though, things have changed throughout the years. It’s no longer the demon it once was. The progestin used during the study was medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).

It serves the purpose of limiting the thickening of the endometrial lining because it counteracts the growth estrogen causes. As a result, combining the two lessens a woman’s chances of endometrial cancer.

Today, the progesterone given isn’t MPA. Instead, when we prescribe it during bioidentical hormone therapy for women in Golden, CO, we use hormones that have an identical structure to the progesterone produced by your body. MPA, however, only mimicked the effects using a synthetic composition.

Bioidentical hormones are plant-based and act the same in the body as your hormones. Studies have shown they don’t have the same effects on the body as MPA, either. Moreover, we can customize the dosage to match your hormonal needs, whereas women didn’t have that luxury with MPA. It was essentially a one-size-fits-all approach to hormone replacement.

A Brief Summary

Whether you skimmed to get a glimpse at the relationship between estrogen and breast cancer or want a breakdown of all the information you just read, we’ve compiled a summary of everything you should know about hormone replacement therapy to help you decide if it’s right for you.

1. You’ll reduce your likelihood of breast cancer with estrogen replacement. 
2. Starting hormone replacement therapy is best done when you begin experiencing symptoms, not 10 years later.
3. The culprit behind hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer was progestin.
4. Bioidentical progesterone replacement doesn’t increase your risk of breast cancer like progestin.
5. The progesterone known for heightening your susceptibility is no longer used.
6. Hormone replacement therapy diminishes your menopause symptoms and has cardiovascular benefits.

Learn more here: Prioritize Sleep & Revitalize Your Body with Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

We Can Help You Navigate Through Menopause Healthily and More Happily with Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Ageless Expressions- Golden offers bioidentical hormone therapy for women to get through menopause without all the awful symptoms that come with it.

In the process, you’re also cutting your odds of developing breast cancer. Though it wasn’t mentioned, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women, besides skin cancer.

And we’re helping you replace hormones safely with one like your own!

Just so you know, aside from the traditional administration routes of hormone replacement, discuss with us the option of hormone pellet therapy — a revolutionary way to get the hormones you need without fuss.

As an extra treat to yourself, help combat other signs of aging with a DiamondGlow treatment to rejuvenate your face and lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without surgery or injections. It’s a multistep process consisting of dermabrasion, extraction to remove impurities, and infusion to seal the deal with a customized serum to address your skincare needs.

This all looks good on paper — well, on screen, right? But hormones are a complex matter, so you may wonder how you know where you can turn for the best results. We’re proud to say clients have plenty of positive feedback about our services. See our reviews click here.

Book your consultation today for bioidentical hormone therapy to find relief from symptoms without breast cancer propensity. We’re available by calling (719) 215-1900, and we’re not far from Justice Center Park to give you an idea of our location and maybe plan to make a day of it while you’re out and about.