The Truth About Hormones & Breast Cancer
In breast cancer treatment the term “Hormone Therapy” is used. Usually “therapy” means you are adding something. In Breast Cancer Treatment it means (deleted words)subtracting something – so it really should be called “Hormone Suppressing Therapy” because these drugs suppress (add italics) estrogen and progesterone hormones. Be sure to keep reading for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in Breast Cancer Treatment.
Estrogen Suppressors
These medications are primarily used in the treatment of ER+ breast cancer. They work by either blocking estrogen receptors or reducing estrogen production.
1. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
- Most Common Medications: Tamoxifen, Toremifene
- Mechanism: Block estrogen receptors on cancer cells.
- Side Effects:
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness or discharge
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Uterine cancer (rare)
2. Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs)
- Most Common Medications: Anastrozole (Arimidex), Letrozole (Femara), Exemestane (Aromasin)
- Mechanism: Inhibit the enzyme aromatase, reducing estrogen production in postmenopausal women.
- Side Effects:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Bone thinning (osteoporosis)
- Hot flashes
- Fatigue
3. Estrogen Receptor Antagonists
- Most Common Medications: Fulvestrant (Faslodex), Elacestrant (Orserdu)
- Mechanism: Bind to and degrade estrogen receptors.
- Side Effects:
- Injection site pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Hot flashes
4. Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Agonists
- Most Common Medications: Goserelin (Zoladex), Leuprolide (Lupron)
- Mechanism: Suppress ovarian estrogen production in premenopausal women.
- Side Effects:
- Menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats)
- Bone thinning
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
These medications can be effective, but as you can see, they have significant side effects.
Progesterone Suppressors
Progesterone Receptor Modulators
- Most Common Medications: Mifepristone (Mifeprex), Ulipristal (Ella)
- Side Effects:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Heavy bleeding (in some cases)
2. Progestins (Synthetic Progesterone)
- Most Common Medications: Medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera), Megestrol (Megace)
- Side Effects:
- Weight gain
- Mood changes
- Breast tenderness
- Irregular bleeding
- Bone density loss (with long-term use)
3. Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Agonists
- Most Common Medications: Leuprolide (Lupron), Goserelin (Zoladex)
- Side Effects:
- Hot flashes
- Bone thinning
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
- Injection site reactions
4. Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulators (SPRMs)
- Most Common Medications: Asoprisnil, Telapristone
- Side Effects:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Menstrual irregularities
- Headache
At this time our Founder & Bosslady Roxann’s personal Hormone Specialist Doctor has chosen not to be publicly identified, however if you would like a referral to a Hormone Specialist Doctor and a compounding pharmacy that treats breast cancer patients email us and we will do our best to help you find someone in your local area. In California the best compounder is Miraya Pharmacy – they ship anywhere in the state. Pharmacist Umesh Manglani is a very knowledgable & experienced compounding pharmacist & owner.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause by replacing hormones that the body no longer produces naturally. It typically involves the administration of estrogen, and sometimes progesterone, to alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. HRT can also help prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
From the time girls start puberty and until women are completle postmenopausal, female hormones fluctuate throughout a 28 day cycle. These fluctuations keep a woman’s body healthy, in part, by causing cell death at the right times to abnormal breast cells. EDC’s and other Environmental problems interrupt this normal hormonal cell death cycle causing breast cancer. When women are periomenopausl and postmenopausal they also lose this benefit. HRT is very beneficial in rebalancing these hormones and can, by many expert opinions today, even work to prevent breast cancer and recurrence. See the video below.
Does HRT cause Breast Cancer?
NO HRT DOES NOT CAUSE BREAST CANCER. However for the last 25 years Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was said to cause breast cancer by mainstream medicine because of the longstanding misinformation passed off as truth in the medical industry.. That theory has been completely debunked. See the video below with the current experts discussing in detail the myths and the truths of women’s hormones and HRT.
Does HRT stimulate or encourage Breast Cancer?
It depends. For women who already have breast cancer, using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)might stimulate cancer growth, depending on their specific breast cancer. Just because it may be ER/PR + does NOT mean HRT will stimulate it. Therefore it is imperative to consult a Hormone Specialist with current knowledge for your specific situation – because every mainstream doctor will tell you otherwise. Why? Because doctors as a rule are very poorly educated in this subject. Don’t fall victim to bad advice here. The benefits can far out weigh the risks. Find out for yourself about your own risks. Start by watching the video below.
The Long Standing Misinformation on HRT & Breast Cancer
The Million Women Study is a large-scale research project that investigated the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on breast cancer incidence and mortality. Conducted between 1996 and 2001, the study recruited over 1 million women aged 50-64 in the UK. The findings revealed that current use of combined estrogen-progestin HRT significantly increased the risk of breast cancer compared to never users. The study has influenced national policies and recommendations on HRT use for more than 25 years with a lot of harmful misinformation to women’s health.
isBCA believes, based on our extensive research, that serious hormone imbalance caused by our environment of Endocrine Disruptors, mostly BPA (this is what we know to be true in Spring 2025) causes most of the 95% of breast cancers that are not genetic and fuels breast cancer in women who are genetically at risk – and is responsible for most “recurrences”.
We also know that proper Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy can “right the hormone ship” – and this same research shows it can also STOP many breast cancers in their tracks.
In mainstream medicine this is still very much NOT the case, with hormone suppressor being the treatment of choice. However the hormone specialist doctors – the doctors who actually study women’s hormones themselves – wholly disagree. These doctors recommend “righting the hormone ship” by re-creating nature using bio-identical hormones in the same monthly cyclical paattern that women’s body’s naturally create in puberty and follow through out their childbearing years on its own – to restore her optimal overall health – and the treatment of breast cancer.
BossLady Roxann Abrams has added this treatment to her breast cancer protocol as of March 2025 upon the advice of a hormone specialist doctor. Follow Roxann’s Journey for updates on her results & effect on her ILC breast cancer in real time. She will be adding her personal hormone test results and this treatments’ effect on her ILC breast cancer so women can decide for themselves if seeking bio-identical hormone replacement (BHRT) for their breast cancer is right for them.
MIRAYA PHARMACY, Oxnard CA, Compounding Pharmacist Umesh Manglani is BCA BossLady Roxann’s pharmacy.
Older Women Age-Related Menopause
Psychological Symptoms:
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory lapses
- Loss of libido
-
Feelings of dread
Physical Symptoms:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irregular periods
- Breast tenderness
- Difficulty slepping
Young Women – Medication Induced Menopause
The symptoms of menopause are the same whether is it a normal part of a woman’s aging or chemically induced by medication.
Psychological Symptoms:
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory lapses
- Loss of libido
-
Feelings of dread
Physical Symptoms:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irregular periods
- Breast tenderness
- Difficulty slepping
Women of childbearing age face added challenges. Can I conceive after having chemically induced Menopause due to breast cancer?
Conceiving after chemically induced menopause due to breast cancer can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. The ability to conceive depends on several factors, including the type of treatment you received, your age, and your overall reproductive health.
In some cases, menopause induced by chemotherapy or hormone suppression therapy drugs may be temporary, and your menstrual cycles could resume naturally after treatment ends. However, for some women, the menopause may be permanent. If you’re interested in exploring your fertility options, it’s important to discuss this with your oncologist and a fertility specialist before you start chemo or radiation treatments to receive guidance on fertility and freezing your eggs ahead of time to preserve your ability to conceive via IVF later. And even if you can’t carry your baby yourself and need a surrogate for actual gestation, your baby is still your biological child.
Can I Breastfeed after Chemically Induced Menopause?
Breastfeeding after chemically induced menopause is possible, but it requires some effort and preparation. The process is known as induced lactation, and it involves stimulating the breasts to produce milk even after menopause. Here are some key points:
- Healthy Breasts: As long as you have healthy breasts, you can attempt induced lactation.
- Hormonal Support: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or medications like domperidone can help stimulate milk production.
- Breast Stimulation: Regular breast stimulation through pumping or suckling is essential to encourage milk production.
- Time and Patience: It may take time and consistent effort to establish a milk supply
Can I take HRT to restore my hormones after chemotherapy?
Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after chemotherapy for breast cancer is generally not recommended by physicians who practice Standard of Care treatment due to the old belief in hormone suppression treatment for breast cancer so the thought of giving HRT to cancer patients the answer will be a blanket “increased risk of cancer recurrence” for all breast cancer ER/PR+ patients.
However, each case is unique, so it’s important to discuss your specific situation with an experienced breast cancer oncologist with extensive HRT knowledge.
Being a young woman you will need a Breast Oncologist Specialist to guide you through your unique challenges of childbirth and lactation because most medical oncologists will not have the hormone experience needed to do so. The trend of younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer didn’t start until the mid-2000s so until very recently most women diagnosed with breast cancer have been peri to post menopausal, therefore Medical Oncologists have little to no experience with post breast cancer pregnancy and lactation.
If you need a referral please email us: [email protected]
What is Testosterone (T)?
Testosterone, often associated with male physiology, is also an essential hormone in women’s bodies. It is produced in smaller amounts by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and peripheral tissues like fat and skin cells. Here’s what it does:
- Sexual Health: Testosterone plays a role in libido (sex drive) and sexual arousal.
- Bone and Muscle Health: It helps maintain bone density and muscle strength.
- Mood and Energy: Testosterone contributes to overall energy levels and emotional well-being.
- Reproductive Function: It supports the development of ovarian follicles and overall reproductive health.
Women typically have about 1/10th to 1/20th the amount of testosterone as men. Imbalances, whether too high or too low, can lead to health issues like irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, or changes in libido.
Testosterone for Women with Breast Cancer
Testosterone has been used to treat certain types of breast cancer since 1930’s. However this comes and goes in the medical field.
And T therapy for breast cancer patients is also a complex topic. While testosterone is a natural hormone in women, its role in breast cancer treatment or risk is not well understood by most doctors. BCA believes it’s imperative you find a knowledge specialist who has extensive experience with breast cancer patients before starting on T.
- Potential Benefits: Some studies suggest that testosterone therapy may help alleviate symptoms like reduced libido and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing hormone suppression therapies. For example, topical testosterone gel has been explored for improving sexual function in women receiving ovarian suppression and aromatase inhibitors.
- Risks: Elevated testosterone levels have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in some studies, particularly in postmenopausal women. However, the relationship is not fully understood and may depend on individual factors.
- Research Findings: Long-term studies on testosterone implants have shown no significant increase in invasive breast cancer incidence, suggesting that testosterone might have a protective role in certain contexts.
As you can see the research is all over the map!
BossLady Roxann is on T & to date has had no negative side effects that she or her doctors know of.
However, every woman and her breast cancer are different and it takes a uniquely qualified Hormone Specialist Doctor to determine her risk/benefit of any of the medications discussed on this page.
I am Menopausal (natural or chemically induced by surgery) or Post-Menopausal and have breast cancer in remission, can I use HRT?
The short answer is: It depends on a multitude of factors of your specific situation.
All mainstream medical doctors will still tell you HRT causes breast cancer and will stimulate current breast cancer patients cancer cells and increase the risk of recurrence, therefore if if you have ER/PR + breast cancer they will tell you NO HRT.
However – as stated above the Hormone Specialist Doctors disagree.
BCA recommends women consult an experienced Hormone Specialist Physician.
If you need a referral please email us: [email protected]
For many women, the benefits of HRT in managing menopausal symptoms outweigh any risks.
Emotional Support
Good Emotional Support is critical to your healing here as well. Problems with balancing your hormones can be difficult for a number of reasons and sometimes take a few months to achieve with ups & downs during the balancing. Even if everything goes smoothly it can still be stressful – reach out to your support network to help you emotionally. Then there is always Duality to fill in the gaps!