Trisha, I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Yes, I've always felt HRT is a good thing to avoid. I had quite an argument about it with a female doctor 15 years ago.

I'm not sure how one would go about this, but if I were you I'd find a way to make sure you get the accurate dose of radiation. There have been stories in the news recently about dosage errors, and Lindsey here at the KT lost her mom to such a mistake.

Keep us posted and let us know how you're doing. I'm glad you came through the surgery well.

I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
I was on HRT for many years but quit about 8 years ago.
So far my mammograms have been good.
Please keep us updated.
(((((Trisha)))))

So sorry to hear this Trisha. You have my prayers. I am of no help as I have never taken hormones of any kind. Please keep us posted how you are doing.

Sue

Sorry you have to go through this. Glad the doctors caught it early. Sounds like you just had bad luck. I wouldn't necessarily blame taking hormones. Definitely warn your relatives so they can be screened. One of the things my gyno asks is if you have any female relatives who've had cancer.

Trish I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated on your treatment and recovery!

I'll keep you in my thoughts Trisha. Keep us updated.

I don't doubt that hormones have raised your breast cancer risk. A google search on 'HRT and cancer' brings up a lot of hits. Have you heard of the book "Your Life in Your Hands"? It is about a possible link to BC and milk products. Interesting read.

((((Trisha))))

Remember when hormones were *recommended* because...they helped protect you from heart disease. I'd gone through menopause fine, then my Gyn. *prescribed* the hormones.

After 18 mos. I had bleeding and was told to stop the hormones. THEN I had the pleasure of hot flashes and all the nasties of menopause!

Shortly afterwards, surprise! Hormones do NOT help protect against heart problems and the DO add to your cancer risk.

Medicine -- an art, not a science.

Trisha -- wishing you WELL at the end of this 'scientific mistake'. Makes me furious! Is there anybody we can SUE?

I had a stroke in 2001 caused by undiagnosed high blood pressure, "the silent lkiller." I was on birth control pills at the time, my doc told me NEVER take any more hormones of any kind.

I actually changed doctors because of her insistence on my starting HRT, for no medical or family health history reasons except "every woman should take them".

Now, with all that is coming out, i'm glad I listened to my common sense instead of a doctor who blindly followed the latest sales promotion by the drug industry.

Aw Trisha!
Hugs and very special thoughts for you dear girl!!

Yup,i'm another who took hormones when i hit menopause,dr ordered them and at that time i did what they said,not any more though.BC does run in my family,from my dads side,and remember they used to say it came from your moms side.Not so!!
I was DX'D in 2008 and had a bilateral mastectomy,and chemo,and am now on aromatase inhibitors(Femera).Didn't have to have radiation,thank goodness,had 6 sessions of taxotere& cytoxan.Also had 16 nodes removed with 3 positive for cancer.
I learned a lot of hard lessons along the way and am now my own best advocate for my care.

Oh yeah,i didn't find out about the hormone/BC link til i switched drs,and the new dr told me with the BC history in my family,i shouldn't be on them.

Trish i hope and pray things go well for you.Will keep you in thoughts and prayers.
Kathi

Thank you all for your good wishes and your input. There was a study done a few years ago (wish I could find it) that linked bc to taking hormones. It wasn't just one of your run of the mill studies.
It was done by world known and learned doctors and the results put the medical world in a tailspin. They found a direct link between bc and taking hormones.
I spoke to my doc today. He will be able to know tomorrow if the cancer and lymph nodes were "hormonal" He also said that 85% of woman or get bc have no history in family.
But since I have a total of 33 very close female relatives -- and I'm the only one who took hormones, I really think the result will be hormonal.
But make sure you guys go every year for your mamos.

Thanks, Trisha, for letting us know. I am sorry for all your troubles and worries and wish you a speedy recovery.

I also took HRT and stopped quite a number of years ago when the news came out that it caused...was it heart attacks, strokes, or what I cannot remember. Since then I developed osteoporosis. I think the HRT might have protected my bones, but at the risk of other problems. So it's a double edged sword, taking HRT.

Best wishes,

Susan

I'm so sorry. I've had cancer myself a couple times (not breast) so I know how devastating that news is. Medicine is not the black and white perfect science people would like to think it is. There are really a lot of judgment calls where we and/or physicians make the best choices we can with the information available at the time. The HRT does definitely make you stop and think and it's really good of you to share your experience with this. I think it would be tempting to second guess having taken HRT but but you can't change what happened in the past. Just focus your energy on the future - getting well - and enjoying many good things ahead. I firmly believe having cancer profoundly changed my life in a good way - which I'm sure people might find hard to believe - but it is true. Best of luck to you as you see your way through this.

I took them, reluctantly, for a short while, but quit and wouldn't go back. I'd especially never take Premarin, due to the cruelty to horses that is involved in it's production.

trisha. did they tell you if you were hormone related breast cancer? i am, and now on anti-hormone tabs...

in a way, i'm lucky as when i had my hyst (uterine cancer), the doc took out everything, including the overies...at the time, i declined hrt..boy am i glad!

had my 4 rounds of chemo then 33 days of radiation...had a lumpectomy, and l-nodes removed which were clear, thank goodness...

the radiation isn't too bad. it only takes minutes, and you're in and out. while it can be tiring, and be prepared for a sensation like the worst sunburn...i drove myself, everyday. (including chemo days, yuck!)

after a couple of months, i still turn "red" on that side, after showering, lol...the worst part was after they were done, and had some blistering and peeling...there is a prescribed cream and aloe vera gel...btw you save on deodorant, lol..you can't use anything before treatment...oh and i got a small blue dot tatto...my rad doc uses them to line you up everytime...hang in there! we're rooting for you!!