A question about chemotherapy, breast cancer, and natural progesterone.

Hi Catherine,

My partner, aged 46, is undergoing chemotherapy for the second time to combat secondary breast cancer in the liver and bones. The cancer is hormone sensitive. Her original treatment also involved radiotherapy on the ovaries thus inducing menopoause and adjunct therapy using tamoxifen. She is also a highly stressed teacher and mother of two young children. It would appear that if the original tumour has spread and become active again she is still producing oestrogen in sufficient quantities for this particular cancer.

Will natural progesterone be beneficial in this case? How do we get a hormone balance check? Can progesterone supplementation be applied during chemotherapy? Are there any particular dietary means of improving progesterone/oestrogen imbalance?

Thank you,

Paul

Dear Paul,

I feel natural progesterone is always beneficial. There are good studies showing the interference in cellular changes, or mutation to cancers. There are other benefits of this as well.

I really like Dr. Zava’s salivary testing. Go to his web site, and get a kit sent to you. Check the salivary testing, and carefully read the narrative that will accompany the results. You can order this directly with Dr. Zava or visit one of the compounding pharmacies near you who may offer the kits or even some of us docs have the kits.

I know there are many considerations (current levels, receptor assays, extent of disease, etc) but I feel that it can be used during chemotherapy.

I like the way that Dr. Zava alludes to progesterone / oestrogen balance as a ratio. It can be optimized with supplemental hormones. I recommend bioidentical, natural hormones. That is the quickest way to alter the levels/ balance. The phytoestrogens can also be utilized, though even their advocates question how quick they will alter the parameters.

Best wishes,
Dr. Bob