HRT no longer a dirty term

It is hard to understand a woman who had a double mastectomy more than 10 years ago and hear her sing the praises of estrogen. This important female hormone, whose production declines with age, is linked to breast cancer.

Its especially shocking to know that this particular woman, Dr. Melanie Bone, specializes in womens health issues and talks herself silly trying to remove the fear factor from her patients.

Bone, who is now affiliated with JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, recently moved into the former office of Island Medical Care. She considers educating women on hormone replacement a top priority.

A big part of what I do is to convince people they shouldnt be so scared of estrogen, she said. I am a big fan of estrogen.

Many women are scared of hormone-replacement therapy. Thats especially true for older women, who recall all too clearly the loud debate that ensued about whether so-called HRT helped or harmed post-menopausal women.

Today, HRT is no longer a dirty term. But it comes with a huge warning sign on the U.S. governments website, MedlinePlus: Hormone-replacement therapy may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, and blood clots in the lungs and legs.

Bone is an anomaly. She is a breast cancer survivor who talks positively about HRT and bioidentical hormones, which are even more controversial in some circles. She doesnt hesitate to prescribe both types of treatment, depending on the patient.

What does she tell patients whose lack of hormones makes them tired, lose their libidos, suffer hot flashes and become moody especially if theyre afraid of hormone replacement and its seeming connection with cancer?

Look at your own family closer, Bone said. Breast cancer is highly treatable and highly curable. One in seven women will get it over her lifetime, and more than 75 percent are cured.

Try dieting, exercising and reducing consumption of alcohol, she advised.

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HRT no longer a dirty term