Kate Victoria's Story: What I Learned About HRT and Breast Cancer
Kate Victoria Saunders is a Breastcancer.org community member in Coventry, United Kingdom.
My main reason for sharing my breast cancer story is "my take" on why I may have got breast cancer and to let others be aware.
In August, 2022, at 52 years of age and never having any health problems, I found a lump in my right breast whilst drying myself after a shower. I had had a mammogram a year earlier and nothing had been detected. I was always quite good at self-checking but I know that a few months following the mammogram I was a bit lapse as nothing was found.
Quickly moving on to my two week referral, I had another mammogram — again no lump detected but the ultrasound scan and the biopsy did see the tumour.
To my shock a fortnight later a letter and some booklets came through the post from my GP. A letter starting, "Sorry to hear you have cancer!" I fell to the floor in shock. The practice had messed up, I really should not have been informed like that. I then had to wait two days to speak to someone and find out what was going on.
I was diagnosed with a 29mm estrogen-postive, progesterone-positive, HER-negative lump.
After my initial breast MRI lesions were found on my spine. It was such frightening time. I had further tests, lots of waiting, an allergic reaction to the CT scan, etc. but eventually the good news was that those lesions were not cancer, it hadn't spread.
At the time I was on the highest dose of HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I also had a Mirena coil which produces progesterone. The oncologist told me both need to be stopped immediately. Coming off those cold turkey whilst worrying about cancer was such a horrible time in my life.
I had two operations, a lumpectomy and then a second as my margins weren't clear.
My main point to this story is that my GP never told me to reduce my HRT dosage. She also allowed me to have a new coil fitted (when I believe the progesterone is at its strongest) at the same time as writing my HRT prescription. My oncologist obviously didn't say this caused my cancer but was astonished this had happened.
I have no history or breast cancer in my family, very fit, never been overweight, healthy pescatarian diet, etc. Nothing else leads towards me getting this awful disease. I am still a believer in HRT as I have friends who couldn't hold their jobs down without it but PLEASE be aware of dosage and how much you are prescribed and get advise on mixing it with progesterone coils. We are all so quick to believe everything on social media and the TV without thoroughly looking into it. Also, don't rely on mammograms! If I had, I wouldn't be here now writing this!
I am now fighting with letrozole. Had my tamoxifen fight and it won, changed to letrozole and hating that too! I still eat well and love exercising.
I write in the hope my message gets to even just one lady and it helps.
May I take this opportunity to thank my amazing partner, son and wonderful girlfriends for the incredible support I got. I love you all so much x
