Connect
← Return to HRT with high lifetime breast cancer risk and osteoporosis
Discussion
HRT with high lifetime breast cancer risk and osteoporosis
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: May 19 6:02am | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
@oknowwhatpixie Your situation sounds remarkably similar to mine. I was also told I could get breast cancer regardless of doing hrt. That made me think I might as well try hrt and at least get a few quality of life years out of it. I was thinking of just doing it for 3 or 5 years then wean off of it. I would be thrilled if it increased my bone density, but even more thrilled if it increased my very low TBS score. I was told it wouldn't improve my TBS at all, but if it can buy me some more time before having to start other osteoporosis drugs then that would be a win. I get screened for breast cancer every 6 months-a 3D mammogram in the winter and an MRI every summer. My hope is that if I develop cancer it will be caught early. Hopefully I can avoid taking an aromatase inhibitor and take tamoxifen instead. It's not as effective as AI, but it's better than nothing. Fingers crossed!!
Replies to "@oknowwhatpixie Your situation sounds remarkably similar to mine. I was also told I could get breast..."
Connect
@soggybones
The good thing, spinal bone shows changes more quickly than hip/femor due to faster turnover. Bone markers or DEXA will give you feedback if things are headed in right direction.
I am planning to do BHRT for about 5 years, will reassess each year as I work with my doctor.
If I'm able to live a long life, I was struggling with how to use the osteo meds over a pssoble 15-20 year span. It just didn't make sense to me given all the possible side effects. I also suffer from migraines and know any new thing introduced into my system will be a trigger for me. I didn't want to deal with the osteo meds creating more migraine days for me.
Luckily I've not fractured to date and even with my lumbar spine tscore at 3.5, on a Hologic machine, my TBS still showed good architecture. That factored into my decision as well.
My TBS was 1.391 and almost a year later (after being on BHRT) it is 1.429, which is increasing in a positive direction.
Good luck on your journey.