re diazepam and menopause

I can't go on hrt because I had breast cancer. How am I supposed to cope???

I can't go on hrt because I had breast cancer. How am I supposed to cope???

Hi, sorry you had breast cancer.

Diaz-pam helped me loads, as I thought my meno symptoms were benz withdrawals so tapered really slow.

If you can't find diaz-pam on here, look up professor john studd or elizabeth vliet, both are menopause specialists.

menopausematters.co.uk is another great forum, which is run by an NHS gynaecologist, who you can email for £25 fee. She helped me get hrt as my gp was funny about prescribing it as I have migraine auras.

Hope this helps and sorry you are suffering.

Thanks Journey 2. Know my periods are weird and wacky. Never know what to expect. But again that could be the benzos. Will look again for Diaz Pam if it happens again. Thanks again. Gilly x

Thanks Journey 2. Know my periods are weird and wacky. Never know what to expect. But again that could be the benzos. Will look again for Diaz Pam if it happens again. Thanks again. Gilly x

I didn't know i was in perimeno as I still had periods, and was a bit young, but my so-called wd sx were actually meno induced as the two sets of symptoms can be so difficult to tell apart.

I got tested and am on hrt, and things are much better, although it took a bit of trial and error to find the right hrt.

Thanks Journey. Will look into that. Cheers. Gilly x

If you google Dr Elizabeth Vliet or Professor John Studd, they are very good sources on menopause.

I think if the breast cancer was not oestroen tumour, you may still be able to go on hrt.

the forum on menopausematters.co.uk is very informative, some good ladies on there will be able to help

Thanks journey, you are a love.  Will see what gynae says. xxx

best of luck

Thanks! 

Hi Gilly - sorry I've only just noticed your thread (Hi Journey )

 

The issue of breast cancer and HRT is quite controversial and not really as cut and dried as some would have you believe. There really hasn't been any proven major increase in the incidence of breast cancer for those who take HRT. It's just unfortunate that when a woman who's been taking HRT develops BC, usually the HRT gets the blame - but what gets the blame when a women hasn't been taking HRT? Sadly a lot of what you read on the internet, and what doctors often believe, is really out of date and clouded by the discredited WHI study done more than 12 years ago.

 

Some cancers are definitely hormone receptive, but the whole picture needs to be looked at. If it's estrogen that triggers BC, then it is just as likely it will be triggered because you are female and you have estrogen, and not just because you are taking HRT. You might find the below link interesting.  http://www.breastcancer.org/questions/hormone_replacement

 

Yet some women affected by breast cancer may be good candidates for HRT. In the few studies that have been done, breast cancer survivors with severe menopausal symptoms who were given HRT had a risk of cancer recurrence that was no higher than expected, given the cancer's stage, its type, and the kind of treatment the women had received.

 

Basically it comes down to what you as the patient wants to do. No doctor should be able to refuse HRT if you know the possible risks and you accept them. However, you might have to look around to find a doctor who will be that open-minded.

 

For me I've always been of the opinion that I prefer quality over quantity. Even if I was unlucky enough to develop BC, and I still had to suffer through the s/x of meno, I would choose to continue taking the HRT. If it ends up shortening my life that's the risk I'm prepared to take, because I know how horrible my life would be without HRT.

 

 

Aw Diaz Pam you are a sweetheart going to all that trouble for me. Thank you so much. I am coping at the moment but if I get rid of the V, which I am currently tapering, and still have the symptoms then I will definitely look into going back to my gynae. The thing is, I'm taking so much medication, I don't really want to take any more. But if it's very bad, I will go back. You're a star. Did you know that there are a lot of women on here who think you are a star too? I think you could get yourself a fan club!!! 

Awww - now I'm blushing..lol...