FAQ on cancer treatment
Q. What if I've had breast cancer? Will
bio-identical hormones help prevent my cancer from recurring?
A. The topic of cancer is enormously complex, and
we simply do not know enough to be able to predict the perfect
treatment. Because most breast cancer cells have receptors for estrogen
and/or progesterone, it is felt by conventional practitioners that any
intake of such hormones, bio-identical or not, will potentially
stimulate the growth of such tumor cells. Since Dr. Chen is not an
oncologist, she does not feel comfortable treating a breast cancer
survivor with HRT specifically for the hopes of preventing cancer. In
rare cases, Dr. Chen has prescribed HRT for breast cancer survivors
solely for the purpose of increasing quality of life, but each case
with the support of the involved oncologist. Breast cancer survivors
who are interested in specifically going on the Wiley protocol or
bio-identical HRT should consult with Dr.
Julie Taguchi, at the Sansum Medical Clinic in Santa Barbara, who
has treated multiple cancer patients with the Wiley protocol. Dr.
Taguchi is also currently the principal investigator on the BHOT
(Bio-identical Hormones On Trial) study, and is keeping meticulous
follow-up records of multiple cancer patients who have elected to use
this protocol.
Q. What if I've had prostate cancer and I
think my testosterone is low? Will testosterone replacement help me?
A. Similar to breast cancer, prostate cancer is
also an enormously complex disease. It is currently felt by
conventional practitioners that testosterone replacement may
potentially increase the risk of protate cancer recurrence, although
the literature is not definitive. In fact, there is good evidence in
the cancer literature that higher testosterone levels in a man actually
correlate with LESS prostate cancer, whereas higher estrogen levels
correlate with more prostate cancer. If a man with a personal history
of prostate cancer has documented significantly decreased quality of
life directly related to low testosterone levels, Dr. Chen will only
agree to cautiously replace his testosterone if he has a urologist who
is supportive of such treatment, and who is willing to follow the
patient along closely in case of any cancer recurrence. The follow-ups
will obviously include serial lab draws for PSA value, a marker for
prostate cancer.
Q. What if I have a history of other types of
cancers? Will HRT help prevent my cancer?
A. Dr. Chen feels that first and foremost in
preventing cancer, is a healthy lifestyle, including appropriate
nutrition and exercise, sleep, and stress management. Beyond that,
whether there is a role for HRT will depend on a detailed evaluation of
each individual patient. Dr. Chen recommends discussing such potential
decisions thoroughly with your personal oncologist and obtaining
approval from him/her before initiating any HRT treatment plan.