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[LinsM]

Hi, I'm new here - although I'm not sure why I'm only just here as I am 52 now and started my menopause when I was 41! But I need some sensible, knowledgeble, experiential advice and someone just recently told me about this site so here I am 

Here goes, apologies if it's long winded!! I went on combination HRT when I was 41 so I have been on it now for coming up 12 years.  Now, I am told, as a result of being on the HRT for so long I have extremely lumpy breasts, there are so many cysts in my right breast they didn't even burst the bigger ones last time.  The hospital told me I should come off the HRT now as that is causing all the cysts which itself doesn't give a increased risk of breast cancer but being on HRT for so long does.  My GP then told me their advice would be to stay on HRT till I was at least 55 and that is when the risk of breast would increase significantly.  These differing opinions have been preying on my mind and now I have another lump to go and get checked out.  So, I came off the HRT about 3 weeks ago and after about 1 week I'm in the thick of menopause, flushes, night sweats, chronic sadness some days, losing words, headaches and probably more.  So the advice I'm looking for is, should I go back on it, should I stay on it till 55 or should I stay off it now and let this ride out - really how long can one woman's menopause last for??

Thank you if you have read all the way to the end xx

[Flossieteacake]

Hello LinsM and welcome to the forum. I do not know the answer to your question about the cysts, but what I do know is HRT can be taken for life and it is outdated when GPs say you need to stop it at a certain age. Some women still take HRT post meno so it is a very individual choice.

I would recommend asking your GP to ask a menopause clinic for advice on your behalf. You can ask to be referred to an NHS menopause clinic if you wanted to.

I am sure somebody will be able to answer your question soon.

[CLKD]

Welcome.  Conflicting advice on any speciality doesn't help anyone  .  Which consultant - Gynae, Oncologist?

My surgeon told me that no healthy breasts has a lump.  However, if these are cysts and you feel otherwise well, stick with the regime.  Get a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic - there are waiting lists so sooner rather than later.

In the mean time consider returning to the regime until you have spoken to someone 'in the know'.  Or U can send an e-mail to Dr Currie who began MM, there is a fee.  Why should you suffer if symptoms are overwhelming? 

What is the chance that HRT will cause breast disease, I thought that myth had been put to bed!

Menopause is for ever.  Literally the last monthly period.  Peri-menopause - those 10+ years leading up to the last bleed - can cause hormonal upheavals.  It's The Change, does what it says on the tin.  My periods waxed and waned for 3 years B4 disappearing.  I had a few hot flushes and itchiness B4 settling, other than Vaginal atrophy  .

[Mary G]

I would restart HRT immediately.

Doctors often give conflicting advice on HRT because frankly, they don't have answers, their knowledge of HRT is very limited and they get very confused with the different products.  It's really a specialist area of medicine and doctors only learn the basics at med school and then get further experience on the job. 

I'm afraid there are still a lot of doctors who are anti HRT because of those wretched, damaging studies in the early 2000s which have since been discredited.  Unfortunately, the HRT = breast cancer thing has stuck and seems very difficult to shift.

Breast cysts often form in peri menopause because of very high oestrogen and low progesterone (often referred to as oestrogen dominance) but as you rightly say, breast cysts do not mean you are at greater risk of cancer.

If you felt better on HRT there is no need to tough it out and make your life miserable with menopause symptoms which can drag on for years and in some cases, forever.  There is no longer any age or time limit for taking HRT and I have never heard of the increased BC risk for women over 55. 

[LinsM]

Thank you all so very much, I'm so glad that I asked!

Back on the HRT today, phew! I have not enjoyed the last few weeks at all. 

I'll be a regular visitor on here now too

thanks again xx

[CLKD]

You'll be welcome - browse round, make notes.  We talk about everything here, even menopause ;-).