I feel your pain, although I have not learned yet if my breast cancer is hormone related and I am dreading finding out. I am on HRT and I have been very happy and content with it. I do not want to go off! So I will be very interested to read any helpful responses to your question.

I think I understand what you’re asking. I was on Hormone replacement therapy and loved them too. I had a very mild to no menopause symptoms ( I was 60- now 61). Found breast cancer at mammogram, I had lumpectomy on left breast and reconstructive surgery on both. A second surgery due to missing margins. 15 days radiation, then started anastozole(sp) - put me in a tale spin mentally and physically. Took a vacation from it and took about a month to get right. I am a low dose of duloxetine to help with anxiety. I started a new AI exemestane and is agreeing better with my body. I am going to acupuncturist to help with joint aches, sleep issues and fatigue. I also do a healthy yoga and a. Breathing yoga. I’m doing well- but it’s a “new” normal. Acupuncture was a game changer. Ask me other questions if you need to.

Sue, your experience sounds horrific! I am so sorry. My 4 mm area was found on a mammogram. Because I knew I was starting Medicare on September 1st I have waited and I have my biopsy on September 18th. It’s been 6 months since they saw something suspicious. The radiologist thinks it’s DCIS. I’m still hoping they’ll say, “oh it’s nothing after all”. “They” are not happy I’ve waited 6 months but I was so close to being on Medicare I decided to wait. I’m very curious and interested to know if it has grown and by how much. DCIS - if that’s what I have - is non invasive and considered stage 0. If it has not grown in these past 6 months and if it’s non invasive and if it’s stage 0, I’ll be tempted to say, “can we just keep an eye on this and see what has happened in the next 6 months?”

I was diagnosed with DCIS stage 0, grade 3 in mid May. I had two tumors in the left breast. I was ER positive so immediately went off my estrogen patch. Within a few weeks I was experiencing hot flashes and night sweats and I was miserable. My bilateral mastectomy was scheduled for August 20 and I was not getting any sleep so my primary prescribed a low dose of anti anxiety med, along with an anti depressant. I guess there's some evidence that the antidepressant can help with menopause symptoms. I decided to wait until I was done with surgery to start the antidepressant med and just used the anti-anxiety med leading up to surgery which took the edge off my anxiety. This worked well for me. Hope this information helps.

I only used it for a few weeks to help me sleep prior to my surgery. I'm drawing a blank on the name of it, but your primary would know. I think it's pretty common.