Dr. Brown asked me to “take the microphone” for this blog post to share my story. I shall
graciously oblige because my story may offer just the right amount of information to help
facilitate the decision-making process for others. Cancer or not, the decision to start
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the most important life-affirming
decisions we make – at least that’s what I’ve discovered.
There are plenty of things people fail to tell you when you’ve been diagnosed with
cancer, have surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and make your best attempt at recovery.
Being my own advocate and learning as much as I could is how I chose to manage my
journey.
Find the courage to question
Although my symptoms of hormonal deficiencies started before I was diagnosed with
cervical cancer, once I had a hysterectomy and 34 lymph nodes removed, I knew my
hormones were headed for a crash. Studies show that within 24 hours of removing the
ovaries estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels significantly drop (by up to
70%). I knew where I was headed, but I was taking a wait-and-see approach.
Once the conversation arose with my oncologist about HRT I calmly and assertively
declined. He supported my decision without too much fuss. My decision was based
solely on my mom having breast cancer (obviously a different cancer than mine) and
being counseled by her doctor to refrain from HRT due to an alleged risk of recurrent
breast cancer.
Conduct a symptom inventory
Like with most health decisions, an open and honest talk with myself was in order. The
long list of symptoms I’ve been experiencing have increasingly worsened in the last five-
plus years, and reached a fevered pitch as we all suffered through the pandemic.
I was not bouncing back like I used to. Coping strategies no longer worked. Joy was
harder and harder to find even when participating in something I previously loved to do.
The realization hit me that I felt like that frog that sits in a pot of water and as the
temperature slowly rises to a boil it is unaware it is being cooked alive.
Here is a list of the symptoms I was experiencing which can be hormone-related:
- Anxiety (anticipatory, panic episodes) – severe
- Sleeping difficulties (wake up and can’t get back to sleep) – severe
- Thinning hair – severe
- Fatigue (deep muscle) and weakness – moderate
- Depression – moderate
- Low motivation & self-esteem – moderate
- Foggy thinking & poor concentration – moderate
- Poor memory – moderate
- Heart Palpitations – moderate
- Lower extremity pain, numbness, itchy, crawly sensation, increased sensitivity,
burning, tingling (paresthesia) in lower legs and feet (peripheral neuropathy –
Extremely severe
Let’s be honest. So often we read about hormones and libido. Frankly, I believe by
addressing the issues noted above, any libido issue will work itself out.
My next task was to get educated, talk to friends, and talk with my doctor about
completing lab work. I knew once I did these things I would be closer to making an
informed decision.
Seek accurate research
When I started collaborating with Dr. Brown to produce these blog posts, not only did
my curiosity peek, but my hunger for research grew. My efforts helped me understand
the process, the benefits, and risks of HRT so I could write from an informed place. I
had to try to keep up with Dr. Brown’s vast body of knowledge.
Forget true crime podcasts. Seeking the truth about HRT and the debunked 2002
Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study lit a fire of curiosity.
The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study has likely had negative impact on
women’s lives for the last 20 years. This is the study that started a deluge of fear-based
marketing and subsequent beliefs by doctors and patients worldwide. As of 2022 the
investigators who participated in the WHI have retracted the results of the study and
have come out in favor of HRT. Unfortunately the false sense of fear remains in many
doctor’s offices, and wrongfully in many women’s minds.
I powered through 35 journal articles, and counting, which made me extremely grateful
for all the research method and statistic classes I took in college. I read entire books
and excerpts from others. I highly recommend you jump down this rabbit hole with an
open mind and appetite for fascinating information.
I also talked with friends and relatives who have been experiencing the advantages of
HRT for years. Luckily, their doctors advised them to participate in HRT after their
hysterectomies, and they agreed. The collective information I gathered provided
everything I needed to make an informed decision.
With research in hand and blood work complete, I decided to start bioidentical HRT
comprised of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Based on the research I
completed, my hope is to glean the benefits in these top three areas: Brain health, bone
health, mental health. And most importantly, I’m 100% comfortable with the current
cancer prevention research-based statistics.
Stay curious and become an Ambassador for HRT
Staying open and curious helped me readdress my decision to refrain from HRT due to
previously having cancer. Accurate information is out there to help anyone make this
life-changing decision.
There is an incredible need for more research in many areas of women’s health. People
who express their concerns that something isn’t safe are basing their opinion upon lack
of research. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not safe. It simply means more studies
are needed using the rigors of the scientific method to gather statistically significant results. If this is the case, then a push for funding is needed to complete the studies, establish safety protocols and save lives.
Every story matters. Every patient that enters Dr. Brown’s office and offices around the
world, matters. I am 100% confident in my decision to take part in HRT because the
most recent valid and reliable research indicates that HRT is not only safe, but it is
highly recommended to treat, prevent and delay many of the symptoms and diseases
that cripple people’s lives and our healthcare systems.
Thank you again, Dr. Brown — Now on to the next blog post.
Experience the benefits of bioidentical HRT at Ideal Medical Advanced Hormone
Therapy, by calling us at 1-775-229-8683 to discuss your needs and to set up an
appointment. You deserve to feel great. Let’s make that happen, together. Feel good.
Look good. Live good.
Written by Anne Kruse, MS
Photo by Cotton Bro on Pexels.com
Supporting References:
https://bit.ly/3ggj4ej
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15799605/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780820/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7304096/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1945198/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7304096/
https://bit.ly/3ESJm0i
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9331845/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33870115/