ADH and Estrogen Only HRT

Posted by adh0824 @adh0824, Sep 18, 2023

I was recently diagnosed with ADH, a wide excision biopsy was recommended and am waiting for my first appointment with a doctor at Mayo Breast Clinic on Oct 2. I have been on estrogen-only HRT for 14 years (complete hysterectomy in 2009). I am 70. There seems to be some research that estrogen-only therapy HRT ( .5 mg daily) may reduce breast cancer incidence and so my family doctor has suggested I stay on it at least until I see the doctor at Mayo on Oct 2.
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about estrogen-only HRT and ADH?

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elliejk | @elliejk | Sep 19, 2023

Mine had me immediately stop interested in what you’re told.

adh0824 | @adh0824 | Sep 19, 2023

In reply to @elliejk "Mine had me immediately stop interested in what you’re told." + (show)

Will post it once I am seen at Mayo and get an answer.
Thanks for responding.

elliejk | @elliejk | Sep 19, 2023

In reply to @adh0824 "Will post it once I am seen at Mayo and get an answer. Thanks for responding." + (show)

Anxious to hear what they say.

maryanna9 | @maryanna9 | Sep 20, 2023

I had an excision for ADH 8 years ago which meant I could not follow through with planned HRT. I am so glad my OB/Gyn made that decision. This year I was diagnosed with a breast cancer that was 100% estrogen receptor positive in the same location.

adh0824 | @adh0824 | Sep 20, 2023

In reply to @maryanna9 "I had an excision for ADH 8 years ago which meant I could not follow through..." + (show)

Thank you for replying. Your experience certainly adds perspective. Did your OB/GYN stop combination HRT or estrogen only HRT?

maryanna9 | @maryanna9 | Sep 20, 2023

I actually never started hormone therapy due to the ADH finding.

adh0824 | @adh0824 | Sep 20, 2023

In reply to @maryanna9 "I actually never started hormone therapy due to the ADH finding." + (show)

Yes, sorry for my poorly worded question. Let me try again. Was your plan to go on combination HRT (estrogen and progesterone for women who still have their uterus) or estrogen only HRT (for women who have had a hysterectomy and no longer have a uterus)?

elliejk | @elliejk | Sep 20, 2023

In reply to @maryanna9 "I had an excision for ADH 8 years ago which meant I could not follow through..." + (show)

What was your risk of BC? Is ADH your only risk? Did you do any prevention with meds or increased screening?

maryanna9 | @maryanna9 | Sep 20, 2023

At the time, ADH was my only risk factor, no known family with BC and I have since been tested for genetics, all negative. I was given a 10-15% likelihood of BC in future. I did increased screening for several years, then back to annual mammogram. I read in January that autoimmune inflammation increases risk, so I asked for protocol review. The breast center suggested a diagnostic mammogram and an MRI and cancer was found. Back when this all started we never got to specific plan for HRT because I failed to jump through 2 hoops - one of which was the clear mammogram.

adh0824 | @adh0824 | Sep 20, 2023

In reply to @maryanna9 "At the time, ADH was my only risk factor, no known family with BC and I..." + (show)

There really isn’t a “choice” on WHICH HRT you go on. It all depends on whether you still have your uterus or not.

If you still have your uterus: MUST go on combination HRT as the progesterone protects the uterus from the increased risk of uterine cancer from the estrogen.

If no uterus-You don’t need the progesterone because you don’t have a uterus that needs protection. This is why I have been on estrogen-only HRT for the last 14 years.

I am trying to understand the relevance of your situation to mine. So the question I still have for you is at the time 8 years ago when you received your ADH diagnosis, did you still have a uterus?