My Journey With Breast Cancer
On my 48th birthday, January 18, 2020, I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night, as if instructed to inspect a lump in my right breast—and a jolt hit me, this electric realization that I couldn’t ignore it. Exactly one month later, I had a bilateral mastectomy, followed by reconstruction. No cancer in my family, no BRCA gene. They pushed chemo, but I refused. My second oncologist was only okay with that if I agreed to have an oophorectomy and took Tamoxifen for five years—an estrogen blocker to choke out whatever estrogen lingered after they’d removed my ovaries.
I thought I bounced back after the surgeries. I was wrong. Major health issues crept in —fatigue, weakness, severe nerve issues that wrecked sleep, irritability, several diagnoses & recommended treatments that I felt would cause further harm more than healing, so I hit the pause button on any recommended treatments (and all symptoms have by now vanished). At first, I blamed the trauma of surgery, but now I know it was as much or more caused by the estrogen crash, the ovary removal which forced sudden menopause.
At this point it was 2021, I was 49, my daughters 21 & 6, I wasn’t planning to have more children. I had no idea of the role of ovaries outside aiding childbirth. My oncologist and surgeon, both women, brushed it off like it was nothing, agreed that if one wasn’t planning to have children, there was no need for the ole ovaries(!) Wrong. Years later, I found out how important ovaries are, their role is indeed tremendous in every aspect of health, long after menopause.
Enter my discovery of HRT, which can boost heart health, nerve and joint strength, energy—I was thrilled to try it, stunned no doctor had mentioned it. But every time I brought it up, doctors turned into brick walls. “Oh no, you can’t have HRT, you had breast cancer,” they’d say.
Kept digging. I started to realize that Hormone Replacement Therapy may not be such a simple "no"
I researched—medical studies, oncology specialists, breast health experts. My research indicated a lot of this fear seems tied to one overhyped study from 2002 that’s warped medical training in most fields. I’m a busy mom & artist—and I’ll research thoroughly when it’s called for. At some point, though, I have to follow my gut. For me, HRT makes sense. After going through several doctors I have found THREE who agree this is a sound decision on my part, and it has been a game changer since I started HRT treatment.
I have put together some rough notes and links below from the research I did to navigate this & discuss with medical professionals—I hope these links and thoughts help someone ask the right questions, find the right doctors, and skip treatments that are harmful. Wishing you strength on your journey.
The paintings above are from the Oceans collection released in 2020. They were created months before my diagnosis of breast cancer. The originals have sold but there are prints available here.
I am celebrating the 5-year mark since the breast cancer diagnosis with a new collection of oil paintings, Whispers from the Wild, including Secrets of the Brush (below) 
My Journey with HRT and Breast Cancer Survivorship
As a BRCA-negative breast cancer survivor, I’ve researched HRT extensively to manage menopause and enhance my quality of life. Experts like Dr. Heather Hirsch, Dr. Corinne Menn, Dr. Jenn Simmons, and Dr. Avrum Bluming, along with studies like Bluming’s 2022 review, show HRT (estrogen and testosterone) can be safe for some survivors, particularly HR-negative, with no increased mortality and often reduced or no recurrence risk. HRT’s benefits for brain, bone, heart, and immune health transformed my life, though it’s not proven to outperform standard treatments like tamoxifen or oophorectomy for preventing recurrence. Many doctors lack training on hormones’ broader roles, so I encourage you to explore these resources and discuss options with your healthcare team. My journey is shared with humility, not as medical advice, but to empower informed decisions.
Resource List
Resources for Further Reading
• Studies on HRT and Breast Cancer:
• Bluming, A. Z. (2022). Hormone Replacement Therapy After Breast Cancer: It Is Time. Cancer Journal, 28(3), 183–190. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35594465/
Reviews 25 studies showing HRT’s safety in breast cancer survivors, with no increased mortality.
• Coronado, P. J., et al. (2024). Menopausal Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer Survivors: An Individualized Approach. Menopause, 31(3), 192–201. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38385734/
Supports HRT for HR-negative survivors but cautions for HR-positive cases.
• Donovitz, G., & Cotten, M. (2021). Breast Cancer Incidence Reduction in Women Treated with Subcutaneous Testosterone. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab, 12, 1–8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8025725/
Suggests testosterone reduces breast cancer incidence in non-survivors.
• Expert Resources:
• Heather Hirsch Academy: Menopause and breast cancer education. https://heatherhirschmd.com
Courses and podcasts on menopause management.
• Dr. Jenn Simmons, Real Health MD: Integrative oncology insights. https://www.realhealthmd.com
Holistic breast cancer care and hormone therapy.
• Dr. Corinne Menn: Breast cancer survivor and menopause advocate. https://www.drmenn.com
Resources on HRT for survivors.
• Menopause and Hormone Information:
• The Menopause Charity: Evidence-based menopause guidance. https://www.themenopausecharity.org
Information on HRT and menopause.
• Balance Menopause: Importance of Testosterone for Women. https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/importance-of-testosterone/
Benefits of testosterone for menopausal women.
• Science Alert: Risks of Ovary Removal. https://www.sciencealert.com/losing-both-ovaries-could-come-at-a-serious-cost-to-the-brain-researchers-find
Discusses long-term health impacts of oophorectomy.
• Podcast:
• Health By Heather Hirsch: Episodes like “Menopause and Hormone Therapy After Breast Cancer” (Jan 17, 2024). https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-by-heather-hirsch/id1423965506
Expert discussions on HRT and menopause post-breast cancer.
• Science Alert: Ovary Removal Risks
Knowledge is power. Explore these resources, discuss with your doctor, and take charge of your health.