HRT

[ZenaJ]

Hi ladies,

My friend is having a hysterectomy today (she hasn't got cancer) she's been told that she'll have to take HRT from now on. She's 68. When I asked after my op to remove everything if I needed to go on HRT, I was told it wasn't necessary. I was 61 at the time.

Have any of you lovely ladies been told to take HRT? I'm wondering why the difference because it's basically still a hysterectomy even though mine was because of the cancer and hers a prolapse.

Thanks girls, Zena x

[Cropcrop]

I thought that once you'd had the delights of the menopause that HRT was unnecessary. I was post menopause and wasn't offered HRT when I had my op, not that I would have taken it anyway there are too many contraindications for my liking 🤔😊. Interesting to find out what the difference is though, maybe just her surgeons preference? ❤️Xx Jane.

[ZenaJ in reply to Cropcrop]

Could be Jane. I agree, I don't think it's necessary. She was given literature that says the same thing but it could be her surgeon that wrote that as well. Zena x

[ScardyCat40]

I was pre menopausal when I had my hysterectomy. I enquiries about HRT and was on patches for a little while. Then I was told that my cancer might be oestrogen sensitive, which was later confirmed with tests

[ZenaJ in reply to ScardyCat40]

Yours sounds like it was thought necessary at the time but my friend is 68. Seems odd to me. Thanks for your comments. Zena x

[ScardyCat40 in reply to ZenaJ]

My point is I shouldn't have been on HRT because my cancer is sensitive to oestrogen. Maybe your friend was having symptoms that was felt would be helped by HRT

[ZenaJ in reply to ScardyCat40]

Possibly. She had the hysterectomy due to a prolapse. I'll find out more tomorrow.

[Emsymits in reply to ScardyCat40]

Do you know what test they did? I.e. Blood or biopsy of tumours etc? I asked my onc as I wanted to know if I should avoid soy, and he just fobbed me off and said it would be looked into (maybe) if I recur. Hmmmm.

Em

X

[ScardyCat40 in reply to Emsymits]

They tested the tissue from my original hysterectomy to see if I would respond to hormone therapy

[Emsymits in reply to ScardyCat40]

Thanks. As for HRT I wasn't offered anything post op and weirdly went from pre menopausal to having everything removed and have had no menopausal symptoms. My mum suffered horribly and had HRT...

[ScardyCat40 in reply to Emsymits]

I wasn't offered I asked my GP and they contacted my oncologist but at that time nobody had checked my tissue. I shouldn't have been on HRT

[ZenaJ in reply to Emsymits]

No Em as far as I know she just has a prolapse. They did a blood test but neither of us know what it was for. It was the general test they do before you go in for surgery. There has never been any suggestion of cancer. x

[Yoshbosh]

I think it's to do with cancer. A lot of oncologists are wary of HRT for women with a history of gynae cancers.

In my case, I was premenopausal (38) and I asked about HRT - oncologist was dead against, whereas gynaecologist was more pragmatic and explained that HRT increases the risk of cancer, which for a woman without cancer may be too much for her to consider, but for a woman with cancer who is already high risk, a small additional risk on top may be OK. I chose not to go down the full HRT route, but use a vaginal tablet to help 'down there.'

None of that explains why your post-menopausal friend has been offered it!

[ZenaJ in reply to Yoshbosh]

Odd isn't it? I took HRT years ago. I finished my periods in my 40's and when I was prescribed HRT I had to have one that gave me periods again until I was over 50. I got fed up with taking it and weened myself off it. I didn't know that you got the symptoms back. I wouldn't have bothered in the first place if I'd known. I only took it because I couldn't sleep. I don't have that problem any more, thank goodness.

[Yoshbosh in reply to ZenaJ]

My mum is mid-60s and still takes HRT because she doesn't want to go through the menopause 😳

[ZenaJ in reply to Yoshbosh]

Don't blame her. It's not pleasant. x

[Tesla_7US]

Zena, HRT for a post menopausal woman makes no sense. Tell her to get a second opinion, especially since HRT has been linked to cancer!

[ZenaJ in reply to Tesla_7US]

Exactly what I think. It doesn't make sense. I'll tell her to do that. We put so much trust in everything doctors tell us but they're not always right. Thanks Tesla. x

[Tammie12]

I had a hysterectomy at age 50, not due to cancer and I never was told to take anything.

All the best to you and your friend,

Fellow hyster sister!

[ZenaJ in reply to Tammie12]

Thanks Tammie, I'm going to pass all this on. She definitely needs a second opinion or at the very least an answer to why they think it's necessary. Zena x

[Sonshine1]

Wow........I have never heard that, usually just the opposite. I had been on HRT for 15 years prior to finding my cancer and they took me off of that so fast it made my head spin. I would sure get a second opinion if possible. What a blessing for it not to be cancer.

[ZenaJ in reply to Sonshine1]

I'll be seeing her tomorrow, would have been today but I had a funeral. I'll see what the update is. I told her what we all think. It was good news it's not cancer but cancer was never suggested thank goodness. Thanks for your reply. Zena x

[Lizchips]

I had everything removed I take nothing. My calcium is monitored I've been good, no supplements for over 3 years

[ZenaJ in reply to Lizchips]

That's great. I had everything removed also and I wasn't told to take anything either.

[Lizchips]

I have friends without cancer who opt for no hormones

[Rlenesue]

I haven't taken hrt as my cancer was hormone related. I don't see why a 68 year old woman should have to be on hrt at all.

[ZenaJ in reply to Rlenesue]

Neither do the rest of us. Waiting to see her to find out what finally happened.