I am so glad I found this. Louise, I actually heard an interview you did with National radio (NZ) while I was driving home from work. It was very fascinating and it caught my attention. I was having some abnormal bleeding 2 months before I heard the interview, and the bleeding would stop intermittently for a couple of days before I started bleeding. I thought I was perhaps peri-menopausal and so I made an appointment with my GP. She told me to have a Mirena inserted but did not tell me what she thought was the problem. No tests, nothing. Not even a smear even though I was due for one in a couple of months. It did not sit well with me so I had a chat with some friends and finally decided to self-refer to a Gynae in private about 3 months later. Turns out I had grade 1 stage 1b endometrial cancer and the wonderful Gynae referred me through to the public system. The team I was under was amazing. However, they were not entirely keen on prescribing me with HT because of my age (41). Post-surgery, I was asked if I had hot flushes - absolutely nothing (I did not even know what it should feel like), and therefore they did not think it was necessary. However, I insisted because the interview you gave. I did not take the patch immediately because I felt I was left to my own devices. I did my PT exercises and then went on a big overseas trip. During my trip, I had extremely poor sleep and put that down to jet lag. I noticed I was sweating (not heavily) but put it down to being in a tropical country. I felt very stiff and sore sometimes and put that down to significant reduction in physical activity during recuperation. Felt a little out of sorts and disorientated when looking for directions, I just put that down to being tired. I finally started on oestrogen patch. Suddenly I sleep through the night (this is the norm for me), I am not sweating at night, I no longer feel stiff and also feel I can think better. This is a really long comment because firstly, I want to spread the message of please trust your gut instinct when you know something is not right (Lesley said it too). Secondly, it did not cross my mind I was symptomatic until I took the HT. Most importantly, had I not heard your interview, I would never have known how to advocate for myself. So thank you very much.
So glad I found this as it totally echoes my own experience. Diagnosed stage 1A endometrial cancer 3 years ago, had hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Totally agree with Lesley, you’re then dropped and left to get on with it. Advised not to take HRT but started it a few weeks ago after over two and a half years really struggling trying everything diet, exercise, reducing stress etc, etc. I’m slowly starting to feel the benefits and think positively about the future. Thank you Louise and Lesley xx
The fears of cancer, it seems to be one of the biggest concerns preventing women from taking hrt. Even though it has already been addressed, I think it would help to continue to consistently address it during each episode, Dr. Newson. Also, it really resonated with me when Ms. Henry said the old her was mad. This time of life is feeling very much misunderstood, blamed as character issues, when it is medical and can be treated. Thank you for your inspiring and educational episodes supporting women’s health and quality of life. From across the pond! ❤
In December of 2020 at age 58, I was diagnosed with 1A endometrial cancer and had a total hysterectomy in early January 2021. Before that I had lots of menopausal symptoms without any real help, except being prescribed an antidepressant and vagifem until after the surgery when a midlife women’s clinic opened in my area. I was finally able to get estradiol which helped but sleep was still awful and then just 3 months ago was finally given progesterone. That has helped but I still feel tired, have no motivation and just don’t really care about most things….it feels like there’s something still missing. The NP suggested waiting 3 months to see how I responded to the progesterone before starting testosterone. Now that those three months are up I need to wait another 3 months to get an appointment then after that it can take up to 6 months to a year to see benefits. I feel like I’ve missed out on the last several years and now still have to wait.
That to me sounds like one of those situations where if at all possible it's worth putting our principles aside and paying for the treatment you need, when you need it, because life is precious and you won't get that time back.
I am so glad I found this. Louise, I actually heard an interview you did with National radio (NZ) while I was driving home from work. It was very fascinating and it caught my attention. I was having some abnormal bleeding 2 months before I heard the interview, and the bleeding would stop intermittently for a couple of days before I started bleeding. I thought I was perhaps peri-menopausal and so I made an appointment with my GP. She told me to have a Mirena inserted but did not tell me what she thought was the problem. No tests, nothing. Not even a smear even though I was due for one in a couple of months. It did not sit well with me so I had a chat with some friends and finally decided to self-refer to a Gynae in private about 3 months later.
Turns out I had grade 1 stage 1b endometrial cancer and the wonderful Gynae referred me through to the public system. The team I was under was amazing. However, they were not entirely keen on prescribing me with HT because of my age (41). Post-surgery, I was asked if I had hot flushes - absolutely nothing (I did not even know what it should feel like), and therefore they did not think it was necessary. However, I insisted because the interview you gave. I did not take the patch immediately because I felt I was left to my own devices. I did my PT exercises and then went on a big overseas trip. During my trip, I had extremely poor sleep and put that down to jet lag. I noticed I was sweating (not heavily) but put it down to being in a tropical country. I felt very stiff and sore sometimes and put that down to significant reduction in physical activity during recuperation. Felt a little out of sorts and disorientated when looking for directions, I just put that down to being tired.
I finally started on oestrogen patch. Suddenly I sleep through the night (this is the norm for me), I am not sweating at night, I no longer feel stiff and also feel I can think better.
This is a really long comment because firstly, I want to spread the message of please trust your gut instinct when you know something is not right (Lesley said it too). Secondly, it did not cross my mind I was symptomatic until I took the HT. Most importantly, had I not heard your interview, I would never have known how to advocate for myself. So thank you very much.
So glad I found this as it totally echoes my own experience. Diagnosed stage 1A endometrial cancer 3 years ago, had hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Totally agree with Lesley, you’re then dropped and left to get on with it. Advised not to take HRT but started it a few weeks ago after over two and a half years really struggling trying everything diet, exercise, reducing stress etc, etc. I’m slowly starting to feel the benefits and think positively about the future. Thank you Louise and Lesley xx
Diet and nutrition play a big role
Keeping weight down staying away from carbs and sugar it’s the key
What a lovely lady on your show today. Respect for how she deals with her situation 💪
Best wishes to her from Germany 🇩🇪
The fears of cancer, it seems to be one of the biggest concerns preventing women from taking hrt. Even though it has already been addressed, I think it would help to continue to consistently address it during each episode, Dr. Newson. Also, it really resonated with me when Ms. Henry said the old her was mad. This time of life is feeling very much misunderstood, blamed as character issues, when it is medical and can be treated. Thank you for your inspiring and educational episodes supporting women’s health and quality of life. From across the pond! ❤
In December of 2020 at age 58, I was diagnosed with 1A endometrial cancer and had a total hysterectomy in early January 2021. Before that I had lots of menopausal symptoms without any real help, except being prescribed an antidepressant and vagifem until after the surgery when a midlife women’s clinic opened in my area. I was finally able to get estradiol which helped but sleep was still awful and then just 3 months ago was finally given progesterone. That has helped but I still feel tired, have no motivation and just don’t really care about most things….it feels like there’s something still missing. The NP suggested waiting 3 months to see how I responded to the progesterone before starting testosterone. Now that those three months are up I need to wait another 3 months to get an appointment then after that it can take up to 6 months to a year to see benefits. I feel like I’ve missed out on the last several years and now still have to wait.
That to me sounds like one of those situations where if at all possible it's worth putting our principles aside and paying for the treatment you need, when you need it, because life is precious and you won't get that time back.
❤ loved this, thank you Louise for organising, and Lesley for sharing. She is right, you are brilliant!!
❤