Oestrogen Matters

As a 15-year breast cancer survivor, who had breast cancer at an early age (34), quality of life was my number one goal from the beginning – – because just being “upright and breathing” is not living if you are suffering. I hit my cancer hard the first time – – lumpectomy/SNB, TCH chemotherapy, Herceptin 12, radiation and tamoxifen. I was first offered a much more toxic chemotherapy, but changed oncologists to one that was more up-to-date with new protocols. The chemotherapy ate through bones in my spine and I have persistent and what will be lifelong neuropathy from my knees to my toes. When I first started experiencing neuropathy, we removed the culprit from my last two treatments. Because of extreme pain, and not because of fear of recurrence, I missed out on using my three very cherished embryos. I wasn’t fully informed of how severe some side effects could be, but I definitely wasn’t informed at all about how difficult the symptoms could be as I “survived” over the years and went into menopause, or how ignored and dismissed I would feel as I clawed my way to being helped.Since I first began experiencing debilitating symptoms of menopause in 2021 and began really researching how to help myself (which is basically a bunch of non-proven, maybe this will work, we know this won’t work, but we’re gonna tell you to try it anyway, to avoid actually helping), I’d seen little blips here and there about how flawed the WHI’s study was. The more I read, the angrier I got. I came across Dr. Bluming’s book, but didn’t want to read it until I formed my own opinion by looking at how the study was conducted and how that information was put out to the public (and what was left out). Since day one of being diagnosed, I have delved into studies, published papers, up-and-coming research, and anything that was available to me regarding my specific cancer. This book is the culmination of what I believe to be very similar to someone have having been prosecuted for a crime they did not commit, but the powers that be refusing to allow new evidence to be introduced.When we are diagnosed and all throughout treatment and for years after our treatment, we are bombarded with fear, and almost a guilt trip to just be thankful to be alive and not expect much more. When I was waking up 4 to 5 to 6 times during a sleeping period completely soaked in sweat and having hot flashes every 3 to 4 hours when awake (with those hot flashes followed by headache for up to two hours), I wondered if it had been worth it being in pain for 13 years before it was managed and then a couple of months later, beginning to experience the symptoms that could last for up to 12 years for me. I questioned if I would do treatment again if I recurred. In that period, the answers to both were “no”. Thankfully, I have a gynecologist who understands that QOL is paramount for me, and while he cautioned me based upon the flawed WHI study, I feel that I’m lucky because I know that there are so many women just like me who simply cannot find anyone to listen to them and to help them. However, I am constantly on the edge of worrying that he will change his mind.I suggest that breast cancer survivors who are truly suffering from menopause symptoms, READ THIS BOOK and then speak with their oncologist or their gynecologist, and if those physicians don’t listen to you and offer you real solutions that will actually work, find new providers. I bought a copy not only for myself, but for my oncologist and my gynecologist, so that other women who may not be as comfortable demanding the care they deserve, may have at least two local physicians who are more willing to provide their patients (who have lost so much) with as normal of an existence as possible.While menopause is a normal part of every woman’s life, suffering through it should not be. To suggest that is ludicrous. I didn’t get to choose to have breast cancer. For me, the badge of honor is because I survived breast cancer and will never be because I chose to suffer from anything related to it.**10/10 for easy to understand, well-cited, caring and compassionate information.**

If you are still scared of your God-given hormones you were born with....You need to read this book and reconsider the Women's Health Initiative studies and see for yourself that they are fatally flawed. I say fatally because sooooo many women have suffered fatal heart attacks, strokes, depression that lead to suicides, vaginal atrophy (basically the death of their vaginas...Thankfully, this can easily be reversed with hormone replacement), serious brain decline.What has been done to women over the past several decades due to the tragic decisions based on this fatally flawed study is nothing less than CRIMINAL.Get the book, read it, look into the studies for yourself and become your own advocate ...You are worth it.The book is a quick read, I read it in under 2 weeks. My wonderful doctor has my copy and is reading it right now.

If you are considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for bothersome menopausal symptoms read these Authors review of the research. Easy to read info on estrogen's role on the brain, heart, bones, vaginal health & sexuality. Critiques Women's Health initiative and the more recent followup of meta-analysis & media misrepresentation. Gives risks & benefits of hormone replacement therapy. If you are considering HRT this is the book for you. If you don't want to read research summaries, each chapter has a nice summary. Estrogen has some benefits that have gotten bashed instead of put into context!

As a M.D. former urologist, I found this extrremely interesting . I remember that gynecologist were not afraid of giving hormones to women with “urethritis”. I am afraid that gynecologist overall live with to many dogmas.

A must read for every woman. This book is evenly studied and well written. The misinformation around estrogen replacement coming from the WHI failed study has ruined two generations of women.

Good, easy read. Science behind it is good.

This book is superbly argued. It taught me a lot more about statistical and other medical reasoning. It illuminates the sadly ill reasoned opposition to HRT. Personally most important of all, has given me the resolve to say no thank you to 5 years of aromatase inhibitor and of course no estrogen again ever after removal of a small Stage 1 ER and PR tumor. 22 years of ER therapy have left me with still quite good bones, heart, mind and skin and never any menopause woes. No signs of endometrial cancer, though I'll keep a careful watch. The side effects of aromatase inhibition as described in the Wikipedia entry alone, not to mention as discussed in this book, left me chilled after my doctor's insistence on it. I should not consent to being a lab rat for what may prove to be another tamoxifim. Now to find another doctor -- and to throw away the 4 thinly, perhaps duplicitously argued books about estrogen I bought to inform myself about what to do! Doctors try to do their best, but I now see they sometimes don't do all they should do. From now on I will weigh and research whatever heavily consequential medical direction I'm given. I have the time; an overworked doctor may not. Deep gratitude to Bluming and Tavris for this book. I will be distributing copies of it.