Hormone Imbalance a Contributing Factor in Breast Cancer
Dr. Nathan Goodyear
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) increases breast cancer. Have you read headlines like that? Or perhaps you were told that HRT caused someone’s breast cancer.
Do hormones really cause or lead to breast cancer? Think about this: every women continues to produce hormones, even after menopause. So, it cannot be that hormones in and of themselves cause cancer. Scientific evidence indicates thatsynthetic hormones and hormone imbalance do contribute to breast cancer.
The ABC’s of Estrogen.
Estrogen’s effects in the body are regulated through two different kinds of receptors: alpha and beta receptors. Estrogen-alpha receptors stimulate breast cell growth. Estrogen-beta receptors inhibit breast cell growth.
- Estradiol, the most potent estrogen, equally stimulates alpha and beta receptors = growth stable
- Estrone, the second most potent estrogen, stimulates alpha receptors 5:1 over beta receptors = pro growth
- Estriol, the weakest variety of estrogen, actually stimulates beta receptors 3:1 = growth inhibitory
The key element here is balance of hormones. Higher levels of estrone present in your body (produced by fat cells) result in more breast stimulation. Higher levels of estriol present in your body results in less breast cell stimulation and, therefore, breast protection. Estriol = Good. Estrone = Bad. If you have heard of someone developing breast cancer after starting Premarin, there’s a logical explanation for that. Guess what Premarin is loaded with? Premarin contains (48%) estrone (estrone = bad = breast cell stimulation).
Here are some more ugly facts about Premarin, also know as conjugated equine estrogen. Premarin actually decreases estrogen beta receptors. So, if you take Premarin, then you are taking high doses of estrone (estrone = bad) and decreasing your estrogen receptors that inhibit breast cell growth. In a nutshell: you are taking more of the bad estrogen and decreasing your amount of the good estrogen. This equates to a prime set up for breast cancer. Don’t take my word for it. See the wonderful article by Kent Holtorf.
Progesterone: The Growth-Inhibitor Hormone
The confusion out there about estrogen and breast cancer is bad enough, but the confusion is even greater on the subject of progesterone.
Pregesterone is the key hormone in the second half of a woman’s cycle. Estrogen is the dominant hormone in the first half of your cycle (estrogen = growth = growth of the uterine lining to support implantation of an egg). The counteractive hormone to this growth phase is progesterone (progesterone = no growth = sloughing off of the uterine lining). It’s the amazing and fascinating way that woman was created.
Synthetic progestins, often prescribed, are NOT the same as the progesterone your body produces. Just look at the structure and you see that they are not. The one thing they do have in common is they both protect the lining of the uterus against excessive estrogen growth. But, that is where the similarities end.
While there are many differences between the two, our focus here will be on the difference in breast cancer potential. Simply stated, synthetic progestins are pro-breast cancer and bioidentical progesterone is breast protective. The Women’s Health Initiative (link) revealed a 26% increase in breast cancer as a result of taking synthetic progestin. The Nurse’s Health Study (link) found that synthetic progestins tripled breast cancer risk over that of estrogen only. The use of Provera, a synthetic progestin and component of Prempro, has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer by 800%!
The statistics for bioidentical progesterone are the opposite. Bioidentical progesterone has many positive breast benefits:
- Progesterone decreases estrogen production
- Progesterone moves estradiol to weaker estrone
- Progesterone moves estrone to inactive (sulfated) form
- Progesterone moves estrone to weakest/safest estriol
- Progesterone down-regulates estrogen receptors all together
- Progesterone activates the cancer protection gene, p53
The idea that progesterone is a safer alternative to synthetic progestins is not new at all. As early as the early 80’s, there has been a call for safer progesterone over synthetic progestin counterparts. In 1981, nearly 30 years ago, L.D. Cowan showed that just having low progesterone levels increases the risk of premenopausal breast cancer risk 5.4 times.
Unfortunately, progesterone-deficient states, (or estrogen dominance) are very common in women today as a result of many factors: being overweight, PCOS, environmental xenoestrogens, excessive estrogen therapy, and perimenopause. Another study, showed progesterone to have a 400% decreased breast growth rate.
The Scientific Evidence Is Clear.
The evidence in the scientific literature is clear with regards to estrogens, progesterone, and hormone balance.
You know, once we understand hormones and the balancing cycle between estrogen and progesterone, it makes perfect sense that imbalance would cause breast problems. And the scientific evidence indicates just that. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s time make sure your hormones are balanced and protect yourself from breast cancer.
Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Bioidentical Hormone?
Dr. Nathan Goodyear
What is Progesterone? Do women need progesterone after a hysterectomy? Does it cause cancer as some have been told? Does it disrupt the thyroid as some also have been told? What is truth? What is fiction? What does the evidence show?
Let’s work through some of these questions systematically.
What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is the hormone a woman’s body produces after ovulation each month. It balances the effect of estrogen in the uterus and throughout the body. When everything is working well in your body, estrogen and progesterone balance each other to create a normal menstrual cycle. However, when progesterone levels fall and estrogen dominates, a woman can experience heavy bleeding, irregular cycles, PMS, weight gain…
Some folks would have you believe that synthetic progestins (especially Provera) are identical to progesterone. This just isn’t true. They are not similar in http://ww5.komen.org/, structure, or function. Progestins and progesterone do both protect of the lining of the uterus from excess estrogen. But that is where the similarities stop!
Race for the Cure… and a Better Understanding of Women’s Health
Breast cancer research has received a lot of attention lately through wonderful campaigns like Race for the Cure, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and similar efforts. All of this research has given us some wonderful insights into women’s health in general. Specifically, the research has revealed clear distinctions between bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestins.
Seasons 'Race for the Cure' T-Shirt
Numerous large studies have shown that synthetic progestins, such as Provera, increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. In contrast, bio-identical progesterone can reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer. This has been clearly tested and consistently confirmed. In fact, just having low progesterone levels makes a woman 5.4 times more likely to get premenopausal breast cancer. Even worse, such women are significantly less likely to survive a fight with breast cancer.
As a doctor, I am horrified by these statistics, and I want to help—through my own practice and through an attempt with many other doctors to educate women.
As a scientist, I am amazed that something as simple as progesterone deficiency results in a higher breast cancer risk.
Seasons Team, Racing for the Cure!
Still Not Convinced?
Here’s a quick summary of the down and dirty science. Estrogen is a powerful stimulant to breast cell growth. (Remember, cancer is unregulated cell growth). When researchers added synthetic progestin, the growth of breast cells increased significantly. In contrast, when researchers added progesterone, breast cell growth decreased by 400%.
And here’s what that means. A woman’s body needs progesterone even after a hysterectomy. Progesterone doesn’t cause cancer—in fact, the opposite is true! Finally, a woman’s thyroid is not disrupted by progesterone—again, the opposite is true!
Progesterone is safe. Women’s bodies produce it for a reason. They need it.
Hormones And Their Effects On The Body
Dr. Nathan Goodyear
People ask me all the time for more information about hormones and why we need them. Hormones are the communication tools of the body. They deliver messages. So here is a list of a few hormones and what they contribute to your body.
Estrogen
- Protects against osteoporosis, heart disease, memory loss, colon cancer, incontinence and tooth loss
- Enhances sleep, emotional well-being, mental acuity and focus, memory, attention span, communication ability, vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, digestion, libido and skin tone.
- Relieves menopausal symptoms and depression
- Increases tolerance to pain
Progesterone
- Has a calming effect and enhances mood
- Regulates fluid balance
- Increases blood sugar, thyroid function and mineral balance
- Relieves menopausal symptoms
- Decreases risk of endometrial cancer and may help protect against breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease
- Protects against osteoporosis and heart disease
Testosterone
- Builds muscles and promotes muscle tone
- Increases energy and libido
- Enhances sense of well-being
- Helps strengthen bone
DHEA
- Helps protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, memory loss, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Can increase and enhance energy levels, libido, memory and immunity
- Protects against the effects of stress
- Aids weight loss and healing of burns
- Helps to prevent wrinkles and dry eyes
Cortisol
- Helps in responding and coping with stress, trauma, and infection
- Increases energy and metabolism
- Helps regulate blood pressure
- Enhances the integrity of blood vessels
- Reduces allergic and inflammatory response
Balance of each of these hormones is a key element of optimal health and absence of disease. Proper testing, a customized treatment plan for out-of-balance hormone levels, and follow-up testing are all important for achieving healthy hormone levels in your body. For more information about metabolic testing at Seasons, contact our office at 318-255-3223 (Ruston) or 318-387-2828 (Monroe).
