"Risks" of Hormone Therapy. The Evidence Speaks for Itself

Conventional medicine has done very little to PREVENT breast cancer, the one disease it seems that women dread the most.  The emphasis has been on EARLY DETECTION, but not so much PREVENTION.  That's why everyone rushes out to get their annual mammogram and does their monthly self-exam right?  I answer this "breast cancer risk" question probably more than any other in my office which is buzzing with hormone information seekers these days.  That's not a good thing.  That's a GREAT thing!!  Why?  If we want to talk early detection PLUS prevention, then hormones need to be evaluated and I'm going to share why in this blog. 

There are 3 primary types of estrogens that women produce.  Two strong estrogens E1 (Estrone) and E2 (Estradiol) can stimulate cancer cells particularly in the breast.  Post-menopausal women have much higher levels of these estrogens in the breast-(10 to 50 times higher) than in the blood.  Yikes!  And fat cells around post-menopausal breast cancer have been found to have high aromatase activity which essentially just fuels the cancer.  Here's what you need to know.  A study of 23,000 women using bio-identical estrogen therapy (customized therapy) showed a 25% reduced risk of breast cancer because of a negative feedback loop in the endocrine system which caused inhibition of that problematic aromatase.  The RISK BUSTER to all of this is the "mix" of estrogens used for patients.  The true magic comes into play with the third and most protective type of estrogen, E3 (Estriol) being used in an individual custom formulation.  If you are producing too much of the other estrogens (just naturally), then resetting things into healthy balance by testing each estrogen is very important. 

Estriol (E3) is protective in that it keeps the other estrogens in check, binding to the receptors, and giving no place for the others to attach.  Estriol levels DECREASE in menopause making it important to assess in aging women.  Thus the statement above about early detection and PREVENTION.  If a woman doesn't have enough E3 compared to the other estrogens, she is increasing her RISK just naturally.  All Estrogens need to be checked pre-menopausal through post-menopausal years.  Keep the estrogens balanced correctly and you reduce risk.  Here's a little reality fact for you.  Asian women have 'higher' levels of Estriol than Western women and a 'lower' rate of breast cancer.  They also eat very different than we do here in the U.S. which has a profound effect on hormones.  Did you know that natural supplements can be used to force metabolism of estrogens in a healthy way?  They can! That's why I continue to train and educate myself in these areas of womens health.  Diet, lifestyle, and natural supplementation is something I often address in patients who present with labs bordering cancer risk or who have a strong family history. 

 
But there are other hormones besides just Estrogen right? 
Yes!!  I will cover another one for you.  Progesterone is another anti-cancer hormone in my book.  But who am I?  Here's what the expert researchers have found through long term studies.  In 1981, at Johns Hopkins University, and study was done following 1000 infertile women for 13-33 years.  It was realized that the progesterone deficient women in the study had 5X more breast cancer than those who did not have a deficiency.  That should make you gasp.  5X the risk!  Also point out that I highlighted Progesterone, NOT Provera (medroxy-progesterone).  In patients using Provera, the risk is increased even more.  It's bad medicine!!  Progesterone is the only way to go on hormone therapy supplementation and you get that through bio-identicals.  It's a "natural" complement to estrogen and it's metabolism.  And by the way, commercial products leave out the E3.   If you are using a prescription/patented hormone therapy, you are missing out on the safest estrogen.

Are you catching this?  Hormones (from natural aging) and the types used to supplement and correct imbalance (treated patients) are HUGE in the detection and prevention of breast cancer. 

Why do Drug Companies hate bio-identicals? 
Uh, one word, MONEY!  Pharmaceutical companies can't patent something that's derived from a natural source.  Otherwise, we would have patents on trees, and grass, and flowers.  They did however figure out a way to make money, and that was through the use of synthetic or artifical hormones.  Bottom line (no pun intended), "Tweak the structure, get a patent!"  Who cares if patients are at risk right?  The pharmaceutical companies should have known that a minimal change in the natural molecule-like the minimal change that turns Progesterone into Testosterone, and Testosterone into Estrogen-CHANGES THE ENTIRE ACTION AND FUNCTION OF THE MOLECULE.  Hello!!! 

Billions of dollars were made on patented products sold to women for many years until the Womens Health Initiative shut them down due to increased cardiovascular complications, strokes, dementia, and breast cancer.  The majority of problems arose from an artificial progesterone called Provera which has been found to cause endothelial damage, inflammation, and insulin resistance.  REAL PROGESTERONE, on the other hand, is protective against these problems.  It's the only kind of progesterone that I would ever recommend for a person. 

So, what should YOU do with this information?
Get your hormones checked!!!  A hormone panel can be done to address each of the 3 estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone, all of which can affect your risks of cancer if left unregulated. 
Call me about your family history of cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, dementia and Alzheimers Disease and let's talk preventative supplementation to help you live healthier. 

I'm pretty serious about what I do.  Why?  Because personalized therapy based on personal symptoms, goals, and risks is the best way to do medicine.  It's what our team provides everyday! 

My best to you,
Dr. Sonja