1. < Breast Cancer

Withdrawals from Stopping Bioidentical Hormone

Posted by lholiway @lholiway, Feb 24, 2022

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2021 and told to immediately stop using bioidentical hormones which I had been on for about 14 years. I stopped and did fairly well for the first 6 months (I think I was a little distracted with lumpectomy and radiation). I started anastrozole in November. Now I am having hot flashes (which are tolerable) but the mood swings, anxiety, and depression are awful. Anyone else have similiar withdrawal symptoms? Can anyone give me an idea of duration?

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lholiway | @lholiway | Mar 3, 2022
In reply to @sheilaray "Hi. I didn't take bioidentical hormones, so I can't comment on that. However, I have been..." + (show)
@sheilaray

Hi. I didn't take bioidentical hormones, so I can't comment on that. However, I have been on anastrozole since November 2021 as well and I seem to be having similar side effects as you. I'm tolerating hot flashes ok, but the tears sure do flow at the drop of a hat. That didn't happen to me before. I didn't think my diagnosis was bothering me. It's my second breast cancer diagnosis and I really feel like I'm ok with it. But, I still wonder if I'm not as ok as I think OR if it is the drop in hormones that is causing this sadness. I still don't know for sure, but I can relate to what you are feeling. Hugs.

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Hugs back to you. It is such a frustrating feeling but I am going to beat it somehow.

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callalloo | @callalloo | Mar 13, 2022
In reply to @trixie1313 "@lholiway Baby and mama are doing great, thank you! Yep -- wine will do it so..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@lholiway
Baby and mama are doing great, thank you!
Yep -- wine will do it so just know if you have a glass of wine, you could get more sweats. I've noticed that over the last year it's not quite as horrid as in the beginning. I'm trying to lose weight to cut down on the fat in my body (I need to lose about 50 pounds) as I've learned that even though I haven't had ovaries for 35 years, the oncologist informed me that fat creates estrogen. Now what the heck? It's just one thing or another. Hang in there...how you feel today is not how you'll feel in a year.

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The endocrinologist I saw was adamant that fat is a very active 'system, the complexity of which science is only now relooking at. And that, at least in women, it's a big contributor to estrogen-sensitive cancers. As someone with the world's worst sweet tooth (but no metabolic syndrome makers which surprises me), 5hat is bad news. Insulin resistance is also a factor for estrogen-fueled cancers. But here's some good news. I've read, in several places including comments in the NY Times, that fasting for as little as 12 hours seems to work to increase insulin sensitivity and may help reset how insulin and fat play a role here and make it easier to tackle the weight issue. I'm sure that lockdown eating didn't help mine,

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Apr 7, 2022
In reply to @lholiway "I have a therapist I see biweekly and it does help a lot. I am trying..." + (show)
@lholiway

I have a therapist I see biweekly and it does help a lot. I am trying to cope. I feel better knowing it isnt just in my head.

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How are you doing now. I was just sitting here having warm thoughts (hot flash) and remembered this thread and how you were starting into this journey. Do you have your paper fans ready for summer? How are you handling your new normal?

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1 reply
lholiway | @lholiway | Apr 15, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "How are you doing now. I was just sitting here having warm thoughts (hot flash) and..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

How are you doing now. I was just sitting here having warm thoughts (hot flash) and remembered this thread and how you were starting into this journey. Do you have your paper fans ready for summer? How are you handling your new normal?

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Thank you for reaching out. I am actually doing a lot better. The hot flashes have minimized thank goodness. My big issue now is anxiety. I think the bio-identicals were really helping with this.
One step at a time!!
Thanks again for thinking of me.

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Apr 29, 2022
In reply to @lholiway "Thank you for reaching out. I am actually doing a lot better. The hot flashes have..." + (show)
@lholiway

Thank you for reaching out. I am actually doing a lot better. The hot flashes have minimized thank goodness. My big issue now is anxiety. I think the bio-identicals were really helping with this.
One step at a time!!
Thanks again for thinking of me.

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I am just checking in with you, is the anxiety subsiding as your body adjusts? It certainly is pretty common for anxiety to go up with a cancer diagnosis, even without your body having to adjust to a whole new hormone terrain. Have you discussed this with your doctor?

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lholiway | @lholiway | Apr 29, 2022

The anxiety is better. Up and down but better overall. I go for my first mammogram this month and I am pretty scared. Waiting for the results will be excruciating. I am doing everything I can to keep it from coming back so it really is out of my hands. I keep telling myself that but……
Thanks for checking in. How are you doing?

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Apr 30, 2022
In reply to @lholiway "The anxiety is better. Up and down but better overall. I go for my first mammogram..." + (show)
@lholiway

The anxiety is better. Up and down but better overall. I go for my first mammogram this month and I am pretty scared. Waiting for the results will be excruciating. I am doing everything I can to keep it from coming back so it really is out of my hands. I keep telling myself that but……
Thanks for checking in. How are you doing?

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I am good, I go through this crazy anxiety right before every appointment. I spend the rest of the time trying to outrun it. My answer to cancer has always been, “ I don’t have time for this, I am a busy girl”. How do you manage the anxiety?

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