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[Lleuad]

Has anyone here started HRT without knowing their family medical history? I would like to try it but am scared as I was adopted as a baby and have no knowledge of my birth family's medical history.
I've asked for help from the council's adoption agency but they said they have a year long waiting list so that's not much use to me at the moment.
My doctor has prescribed patches for me but warned me it was at my own risk as I don't know if there's any history of cancer in my family.
Has anyone else been in this predicament?

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM Lleuad
Doctors and the media are very strong on telling women about the dangers of HRT but rarely emphasis the benefits.  The risks are very small until we are 60 and if you use HRT beyond 60 then the risks do increase slightly.
I wouldn't worry about you family history - just have the regular mammograms, keep you weight under control and get enough exercise, so you reduce your risk factors generally.

Benefits of HRT are:
Protection for bones and heart for the long term.
Reduced risk of bowel cancer.
Protection against urogenital atrophy ( this can be nasty)
Maintains skin, muscles and joints.
Reduces menopause symptoms which brings a better quality of life.

The risks:  a very, very small risk of DVT and breast cancer.

If you read the labels of even over the counter medications, you would probably decide not to use them because the pharmaceutical companies list all possible side effects so they can't be held responsible for any problems. 

Use the patches and enjoy feeling better.  Let us know how you get on.  DG x

[Tinkerbell]

My meno specialist told me that even if Someone had breast cancer HRT wasn't ruled after treatment was finished and the risk of DVT is no greater than the norm if HRT is a transdermal form, I was worried about that one as my mother had a DVT at a young age.

[Zara69]

Yes ....me.  Adopted as a baby.  I use Evorel Sequi patches and vagifem.  I felt better within days.  I can't worry about things I have no way of finding out about.  Don't worry and do what's best for you.  What else can we do? X

[CLKD]

   it's a really good question.  But most Surgeons work on symptoms and Quatliy of Life is important.  Better to have treatment to ease any symptoms.  After all, that bus might creep up behind long B4 breast disease happens and you will have lost any benefits that HRT can give.

Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary? 

'at your own risk' - if your GP was *that* worried surely he/she would have contacted the Agency?  I would still be interested but how far back do their Medical Records go anyway? 

[racjen]

I'd say quality of life is far more important than things you have no control over. I have no idea of my family history on my dad's side as he died at 44, and there are no known living relatives. I've had breast cancer, but it wasn't hormonally driven so my oncologist was happy for me to have HRT. However, I've heard of other doctors advising against it in these circumstances, even though I'm no more likely to develop hormonally driven cancer than someone who's never had it. So in the end you have to decide what's most important for you - how you feel in the here and now, or what might possibly happen in the future in the unlikely scenario you do have breast cancer in the family. I know what I'd choose....x

[aspie65]

If it really worries you have you considered a DNA test to identify whether you are gene carrier?  23andme do this test for about £80.

[Wilks]

Of course, we can't tell you what to do, but I'm firmly in the camp of taking HRT and minimising other risk factors (i.e. being careful about alcohol, diet and exercise). Quality of life is massively important, so each woman balances the benefits and risks according to their needs.