Health Recipes

How Hormone Treatment Can Prevent Breast Cancer 

If menopause is making you miserable, you should probably consider using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for symptom relief. Perhaps you are reluctant to take the HRT plunge because of reports that this therapy can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. While standard HRT in women may increase breast cancer risk, that is not the case with bio-identical HRT, the only HRT AgeRejuvenation uses. Not only does bio-identical HRT help prevent the development of osteoporosis, macular degeneration, diabetes, heart disease, and other common conditions of aging, it is less likely to boost the odds of developing breast cancer. It may even play a preventive role. 

Women’s Health Initiative Study

In 1991, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, enrolled 160,000 women aged 50 to 79 to address health problems resulting in morbidity and mortality in this group. The WHI found that HRT consisting of estrogen/progestin therapy, used in women who still had their uteruses, increased breast cancer risk. 

However, for women who had hysterectomies, and used estrogen HRT alone, a decrease in their breast cancer risk occurred. The results of the study caused the WHI to stop the estrogen/progestin HRT study in 2002, and the estrogen-alone HRT study in 2004.  The overall use of HRT dropped significantly among women suffering the side effects of menopause. 

Years later, a principal investigator of the WHI study, Dr. Robert Langer, said the initial results linking HRT to breast cancer were “misleading and distorted.” 

Bio-identical HRT

Standard estrogen HRT consists of hormones created from pregnant mare’s urine. Synthetic progestins found in standard HRT may increase breast cancer risk. It is a one-size-fits-all type of HRT, taken off the shelf and given to the patient. 

That is not the case with bio-identical HRT, derived from natural sources such as yams and soy and custom-tailored for each patient at a compounding pharmacy.  While standard HRT differs from a woman’s natural hormones, bio-identical HRT is identical on the molecular level to the hormones produced by the body. That means your body cannot tell the difference between the estrogen formerly produced by your ovaries and bio-identical HRT. The bottom line is that the chemical structures of standard and bio-identical HRT are very different, and comparing one to the other is similar to comparing apples and oranges. 

Estriol

In pregnancy, estriol is the primary type of estrogen involved and is produced by the placenta and fetus. No matter their ethnicity, women who give birth before the age of 20 have a 50 percent lower lifetime breast cancer risk, and estriol may prove responsible. Estriol studies in rats have shown a reduction in mammary cancer. 

Considered the weakest of the three estrogens produced by the body – the other two are estradiol and estrone – estriol is often found in bioidentical HRT. 

Lower Breast Cancer Risk 

One study found that “physiological data and clinical outcomes demonstrate that bio-identical hormones are associated with lower risks, including the risk of breast cancer,” as well as being more effective than standard HRT.  

Bio-identical HRT at AgeRejuvenation

If you would like more information about the benefits of bio-identical HRT,  contact AgeRejuvenation today at 888-865-8370 to schedule a free consultation. 

Early Breast Cancer Detection and Thermography

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and one out of every eight females will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in her lifetime. While great strides have been made in breast cancer treatment in recent decades, the fact remains that early detection of such cancers may still mean the difference between life and death. Thermography is one of the tools used for early breast cancer detection.

As tumors grow, they are more likely to metastasize, spreading the disease throughout the body. When tumors are discovered at an early stage and removed – along with additional therapy such as radiation, chemotherapy and the use of tamoxifen or other medications –the woman has a much higher chance of surviving breast cancer. 

Thermography

Also known as thermal imaging, thermography has existed for several decades. It is a simple, non-invasive procedure, utilizing a special camera and infrared technology to take photos of the breasts and detect heat. The latter may prove indicative of early breast cancer, long before a woman may feel a lump in her breast. No radiation is involved with thermography.

How Thermography May Detect Early Cancer

The idea behind thermography and tumor detection is based on the fact that cancer cells grow very quickly. As they multiply, blood flow and metabolism rise, causing inflammation and a boost in skin temperature. It is this higher temperature that thermography identifies on the breast’s skin. Thermography cannot detect breast cancer per se, but it can identify excess heat potentially indicative of the early stages of breast cancer.   

However, thermography also has a high rate of both false positives and false negatives, which alarms researchers. Just as women do not want to go through the stress and fear of a false positive, a false negative gives an unwarranted sense of security. 

Not a Mammogram Substitute

In February 2019, the FDA issued a safety communication stating that thermography “should not be used in place of mammography for breast cancer screening or diagnosis.” The FDA notes that mammography is the safest and most effective breast cancer screening tool and the only method that increases survival through early breast cancer detection. Keep in mind that while insurance companies will usually not pay for thermography, they will cover mammograms. 

Thermography vs. Mammograms for Young Women

Since thermography is not considered as reliable for detecting early breast cancer as a mammogram, why should a woman consider having the test done? Changes in mammography screening guidelines have raised the recommended age for an initial mammogram from 40 to 50 for women at average risk of developing breast cancer.

Because pre-menopausal women have denser breasts, mammograms are difficult to interpret in younger females. Mammograms may appear suspicious in as many as half of pre-menopausal women, leading to further testing, including biopsies. For most of these women, cancer is not present. Not only have they undergone unnecessary medical procedures, but they have also had to live with the fear of having cancer for weeks or months until their results come back. 

Women at high risk for breast cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease or who have a BRCA gene mutation, should have mammograms at an earlier age. For the average woman without these risk factors, thermography might indicate early breast cancer, and she can follow up the results with a mammogram for a more definitive diagnosis. 

Exercise and Menopause…What are the Benefits?

The Benefits of Exercise for Menopause

Going through menopause can often be a very challenging part of a woman’s life. Menopausal symptoms can be severe and disruptive to one’s daily activities and overall quality of life.

Regular physical activity is crucial for menopausal and postmenopausal women. As women age and their hormone levels change, the risk of developing a chronic condition such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, and cancer, is greatly increased.

According to the Centers For Disease Control, regular exercise helps reduce stress, improves the overall quality of life, and helps to prevent weight gain and muscle loss, which are the most frequently reported side effects of menopause.

An article published by the European Menopause and Andropause Society discussed the benefits of exercise on specific menopausal symptoms. For example, a group of menopausal women aged 55–72 who were involved in an exercise program of 3 hours per week for 12 months, experienced significant improvements in physical and mental health, with an increase in overall quality of life when compared to those who were sedentary.

A study published in the journal Mauritas reported that women who participated in regular physical activity were 49% less likely to report hot flashes than those whose exercise levels had decreased.

They also concluded that sedentary women who were given an aerobic exercise regimen for 6 months reported a decrease in the frequency of hot flashes (Strojanovska, 2014). Therefore, exercise can be considered an important factor in alleviating menopause symptoms.

Learn More:  Coping with Menopause 

Exercise in Menopausal Women (Mayo Clinic, 2016):

  • Prevents weight gain
    • Women are more likely to gain abdominal fat and lose muscle mass during and after menopause. Being physically active will help prevent weight gain and increase muscle mass.
  • Reduces risk of osteoporosis
    • Exercise can slow bone loss after menopause.
  • Improves mood
    • Physically active adults have a lower risk of depression and cognitive decline.
  • Decreases risk of chronic conditions
    • Maintaining a healthy weight will help prevent the development of chronic diseases such as Type II Diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Exercise Recommendations:

  • Aerobic training: 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week for cardiovascular health
    • Moderate intensity aerobic exercise is when you are working hard enough to raise your heart rate, 60-70% of target heart rate, and begin sweating – you should be able to talk, but unable to sing the words to a song
      • Ex: Walking very briskly (4 mph), heavy cleaning  (washing windows, vacuuming, mopping), mowing lawn, bicycling (10-12 mph)
    • Vigorous intensity aerobic exercise is when you are breathing hard and fast with a significant increase in heart rate, 70-80% of target heart rate.
      • Ex: Hiking, Jogging at 6 mph, Shoveling, Carrying heavy loads, Bicycling fast (14-16 mph)
  • Strength training: 10-15 minutes, 3-4x per week to build bone and muscle strength to increase metabolism and aid in fat loss.
 More Exercise Recommendations at AgeRejuvenation

 

References:

Stojanovska, L. (2014). To exercise, or, not to exercise, during menopause and beyond. Mauritas, 77, 318-323.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/fitness-…

PCOS Affecting Women

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, occurs when the ovaries overproduce male hormones. At least 15% of women are affected by this condition, and it is thought to be hereditary.

  • Excess facial or body hair
  • Acne
  • Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
  • Irregular periods or none at all
  • Depression
  • Decreased insulin sensitivity
  • Infertility

Lifestyle modification and hormone rebalancing are helpful in reducing the symptoms and severity of health detriments caused by this syndrome.

PCOS has shown significant improvement, if not resolution, through lifestyle changes. Weight loss, even as little as 10 lbs, has been shown to allow the hormones to rebalance and begin regular periods again.

A healthy, balanced diet, regular exercise, and even cessation of smoking have also proven beneficial for improvement of PCOS symptoms.

However, hormone replacement therapy is most effective, as it resolves the imbalance at the source.

Bio identical hormone replacement is most efficacious as it avoids synthetic medications and many practitioners specializing in BHRT are able to use supplements, as well as medication, to alleviate all symptoms of this syndrome in the most efficient and healthy way possible.

Testosterone in women

Many women do not know about testosterone in their own bodies. The ovaries produce both testosterone and estrogen. Relatively low levels of testosterone are released from the ovaries and adrenal glands into the bloodstream. Testosterone has an effect upon much of the body in females. It helps promote lean muscle mass, better bone strength, an increased energy level, and a women’s sex drive. If women do not have enough testosterone as it elevates mood, depression can take place. Additionally heart attacks have been associated with low testosterone, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis. Having too much testosterone is also bad for women. It may cause thick hair growth like a man, hair loss can also occur, acne is common as well as virilization and irregular menstrual cycles. So what should be done if you have a high or low amount of testosterone? First see your doctor so you can be certain by having a blood test done. Then you will be able to take medication specific to your needs which may help you! The results vary by individual consult your doctor and see if your testosterone levels are sufficient.