LAM64's Story: Surprised by the Impact of Using Hormone Replacement Therapy
LAM64 is a Breastcancer.org Community member in Clayton, Georgia, USA.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2019. A breast thermogram and ultrasound of the left breast on September 20th of 2019 revealed a mass at the 3 o’clock position. I then followed up with the Emory Breast Center with a mammogram and ultrasound on November 20th, 2019. At that time they confirmed the mass as well as an enlarged axillary lymph node on the left side, both which were biopsied that same day.
Just a few days before Thanksgiving, Emory called to confirm the results did indeed find Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in both the node and breast mass. I underwent 5 months of chemotherapy followed by a left mastectomy. Fortunately, I responded well to the chemotherapy with complete resolution of the breast mass and the node returned to normal size. No residual cancer was found in my breast or lymph nodes at surgery. I also underwent 6 weeks of radiation a couple of months following surgery.
An important part of my story began when I started bioidentical hormone cream at age 45 and continued until about age 55. The day I went to Emory for the mammogram, I saw a nurse practitioner in the clinic who advised me to stop the hormone cream and indicated that there wasn’t enough known about women continuing this type of hormone replacement who might have breast cancer.
A couple of weeks later when I saw an oncologist, he agreed and confirmed that since my tumor was estrogen sensitive, that it would be best not to continue the hormone replacement. As a pharmacist and woman having gone through menopause, I feel that it is very important for women to understand more about hormones and the potential impact on breast care. I hope they by sharing my story, others might benefit.
Lastly, the most important part of my story is to tell others that my healing is not only due to good medicine and doctors, but also due to many, many prayers lifted up to God who heard them and answered them. I am thankful for all that I have been through as it has strengthened me physically and spiritually.
