WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for November, 1998: Re: ERT

Re: ERT

From: Thomas (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 27 Nov 1998 02:30:29 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: K.Hahn: "ERT"
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The choice is yours not your doctors. On balance, the ERT is probably of benefit to you. You are at risk of heart disease in the future and ERT protects as well as protecting you against osteoporosis.

There is a small association between ERT and breast cancer but that is only with long term use after the usual age of menopause. Women who take ERT beacuse they have had an early menopause (due to ovaries being removed for example) do not increase their risk of breast cancer until they continue taking it for a good 10 years after their natural manopause would have occurred. The suspected increase risk of breast cancer is not associated with an increased risk of dying from breast cancer. It seems that women who get breast cancer on ERT have a better prognosis.

However, you're not going to die immediately if you stop taking ERT. I would recommend you take it but it is a quality of life thing. If it is causing you worry and concern and making you unhappy, stop it. Your life may or may not be shortened by a few years but it is better to die young and happy than old and miserable. Either way stopping it for a bit might convince you that you feel better taking it (or not).

Best of luck

-- Thomas Ind MB BS MD MRCOG St George Hospital Kogarah Sydney Australia

For every complex problem there is a simple solution...and it's wrong. (H L Mencken).

Next message: Thomas: "Re: Inconclusive beta hCG"
Previous message: angela: "help--very painful period"
In reply to: K.Hahn: "ERT"
Next in thread: James Connerth MD: "Re: ERT"

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