Breast Cancer Question

[DEN53]

I know there are many different types of breast cancer - but what baffles me is, they say women who have gone through the menopause are more at risk, yet they have low levels of hormones, which I would think is a positive not negative. Some cancers feed on high levels of hormones !

Anyone know the answer ?

[sqad617]

DEN53...bottom line........I do not know.

My guess....not all breast cancers are hormone dependant and as you age, their dependance on hormones decreases.

DEN...that is a guess, so please don't quote me.

[DEN53]

Its just something that has always puzzled me sqad - when you read articles on breast cancer, they always seem to focus on the risk increasing with age, fair enough, as most cancers increase with age - but if you have zilch hormones after the menopause I would have thought the risk of breast cancer would decrease.

But as you rightly say sqad, not all breast cancers are hormone dependant.

I am not asking the question for anyone in particular - its just that when you read articles on breast cancer, they give graphic details of who is at risk, but never the reason why.

I don't suppose they know either, if the truths known.

Bye sqad

[sqad617]

den lol

[gelda]

I've got breast cancer and was treated with hormone therapy for 3 yearsbut unfortunately it didn't work, the consultant said I had hormone receptive breast cancer but I suppose they can get it wrong. I've now been on chemo for 5 months and that isn't working either, it's spread to my bones, lungs and scull. What I'm getting at is perhaps they got it wrong about the hormone receptive thing and put me on chemo in the first place it wouldn't have come to this but I'll never know :-{

[stompe]

Missed you This Morning Gelda! xxx {:(

[sqad617]

gelda...when it was first diagnosed, you must have had a body scan. Was there any evidence of metastatic spread at the time of diagnosis?

[NoMercy]

My Aunt recently underwent treatment for Breast Cancer. Her's was probably down to lifestyle factors, hence the reason that it took until her 50's to catch up with her. My exes daughter had breast cancer in her early 20's (she passed away this xmas just gone, after the cancer metastisized and spread to the brain) which was probably down to a genetic predisposition. The modern proliferation of cancer-causing carcinogens in our daily lifestyle is probably a major contribution to soaring breast cancer rates in the western world. For instance, every time you use a teflon frying pan, you are ingesting carcinogens; everytime you spray household cleaners, every time you chargrill a steak.

One in 9 women will get breast cancer in this country. One in 10,000 women in Japan will get breast cancer. However, Japanese women living in the west, eating a western diet, fall into the one in 9 catagory. Food for thought (no pun intended).

[barry1010]

Den, it would be impossible to have 'zilch' hormones, before or after menopause.
There are many, many different types of hormone which affect blood pressure, growth of muscles and bones, regulates blood sugars, produces adrenalin.
Hormone imbalances cause diabetes, infertility, Pagets disease, thyroid problems and lots of other diseases.

[sqad617]

barry....I think that DEN was referring specifically to ovarian hormones.

[DEN53]

I agree NoMercy - I think you are right as regards what we are exposed to on a daily basis. I also think genetics comes into it aswell - when you see a woman/man living to the ripe old age of 100+ never having cancer etc, but still going strong.

I suppose its all about the cards you are dealt with in life.

My parents are just 80 - always been healthy - and then there is me - thyroid problems from the age of 10yrs old - five operations (2 major ones) - was told I would never have children - then fell pregnant when I was 35 - now I have osteoporosis and a whole list of other things I can't be bothered to mention. Yet my family are all healthy - it comes down to the cards you are dealt !!

[DEN53]

yes, I was !!

[NoMercy]

Den - My nan's Dad got a job at 94! He smoked and drank, and worked down the mines for most of his life. He died just before his 103rd birthday. Yet I know a guy who died of lung cancer at 34. I think a lot of it is down to genetic pre-destiny.

[gelda]

Hi Stompe. First morning I've missed for a long time, I didn't feel too good and had quite a bit of pain in my back and sitting at the computer is a bit painful but I'll be back tomorrow :-} xx
Sqad, It was diagnosed nearly seven years ago when I was having a lot of back pain, they gave me an MRI scan and found I had tumours in my spine, I had already found a lump in my breast but ignored it because my husband was very ill at the time and I didn't want to worry him with my problems, he was more important. Anyway they gave me a hospital app. for 5 days time but 2 mornings later I couldn't feel my legs and was rushed into hospital where I stayed for 2 months having radiotherapy and pain relief then I was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital to learn to walk again, I spent another 3 months in there ,that was 3 years ago and I'm still walking and driving but the radiotherapy has damaged my spine and I'm limited to what I can do. A couple of months ago I had a CT scan and a bone scan where they found the cancer in my lungs and a tumour on my scull, I've told them I don't want to know the prognosis because I want to live as normally as poss, so I suppose I'll be on chemo indefinately, I suppose I'm lucky really to be still alive and hope to be so for some time yet :-} I'm still stuck with the MRSA and DVT though. Sorry this is a bit long drawn out but you did ask me :-}

[DEN53]

So sorry Gelda to hear of your continuing problems with breast cancer - it sounds like you feel let down by the original treatment you were given.

I really wish you well Gelda xx

[gelda]

Thanks Den :-}

[sqad617]

thanks gelda my love.....crap cards eh?

[gelda]

That's life, it's my own fault really, should have gone when I found the lump, just a warning to all you women out there, DON'T DELAY! don't end up like me .

[sqad617]

gelda..I can vividly remember the first time that we met on AB, you gave me a good old "ear wigging" about a statistical answer I gave on lung cancer survival rates.

I learnt a lot from that verbal and I deserved it. LOL

[gelda]

I don't remember that Sqad !

[sqad617]

gelda...LOL LOL ...I do.