Weighing The Benefits And The Risks Of Hormone Therapy

(NAPSI)-To take hormones or not to take hormones? Many menopausal women ponder this question.

There is no doubt that hormones can help relieve menopausal symptoms, but recent studies have highlighted the potential risks of hormone therapy (HT).

In 2002, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) found that prolonged use of HT with estrogen plus progestin caused a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. A few years later, a new look at the study suggested that certain younger women taking estrogen might actually have a slightly lowered risk of heart disease.

"Since the results of the WHI were first released in 2002, the public has been bombarded with conflicting information on how to interpret the findings," said Nanette Santoro, M.D., Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "This is a complex issue and patients should participate in continuous open dialogue with their physicians to arrive at treatment decisions best for their individual needs."

Based on the latest research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestin) be used to relieve the symptoms of menopause at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest amount of time needed to relieve symptoms.

Each woman is a unique individual, so it's important that she discuss the benefits and risks of hormone therapy with her doctor as they apply to her particular situation.

When seeing your doctor, here are five tips to make the most of your visit.

1. Make a list of your symptoms and prioritize them, including how often you have them and how severe they are.

2. Learn about hormone therapy ahead of time.

3. Think about your own comfort level with the benefits and risks of hormone therapy before seeing the doctor.

4. Prepare a list of questions for your doctor.

5. Document your family health history.

Work with your doctor to reevaluate your treatment choices periodically so that you can confidently make the best decisions to navigate this period of change in your life.

For more information about menopause, visit www.hormone.org.

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Early Detection Of Prostate Cancer Saves Lives

(NAPSI)-A simple exam could save a man's life. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men. In fact, during a man's lifetime, his chances of being diagnosed with prostate cancer are one in six. For African-American men, the chances are even higher, with one in four men at risk for developing the disease.

"The good news is the disease is treatable with early detection," said Jonathan L. Myles, MD, FCAP, a pathologist from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "Survival rates for men with low-grade prostate cancers are encouragingly high if the cancer is detected before it has spread to other parts of the body."

Pathologists, physicians who examine tissues and cells to diagnose prostate cancer and other diseases, state that early prostate cancer often has no symptoms, making screening for the disease even more critical. Prostate cancer is commonly detected through the use of two screening tests-a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. A PSA exam detects the level of PSA, a protein produced by prostate cells, in the blood. Higher PSA levels indicate the possibility of cancer.

Identifying Risk

If the results of the DRE and/or PSA are not within normal range, a pathologist will conduct a biopsy and assign a Gleason grade if cancer is identified. This number is a strong measure of how aggressive the prostate cancer is and can be used to help determine prognosis and treatment options.

Men 50 years of age and in good health should speak with their physician about receiving an annual PSA and DRE. African- American men and men who have a close relative who was diagnosed with the disease should consult with their physician and consider beginning screening at age 45.

Choosing Treatment

Many treatment options are available. If you are older, it might be appropriate to take a "watchful waiting" approach. Surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are also used to treat prostate cancer.

"Even if you don't look sick or feel sick, you should speak with your primary care physician about screening for prostate cancer if you're over 50," said Dr. Myles. "Early detection is a major factor in successful treatment."

Free Resources

For more information regarding prostate cancer, screening tests and possible treatment options, visit the College of American Pathologists' patient information Web site, MyBiopsy.org. The site offers information on other common cancers and cancer-related conditions. To register for an e-mail to schedule a prostate cancer screening exam, visit MyHealthTestReminder.org, a free Web site also developed by the College.

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Announcing Soothe Natural Progesterone Cream for Natural, Chemical-Free Relief of Insomnia and Other Menopause Symptoms

GBB Note: Most women really don't know a whole lot about menopause or progesterone. This seems like an interesting product, although we have no clue as to whether it helps with the symptoms. If anyone in Fayette County tries it and likes it, be sure to let us know.

24-7 -- Nutrition Breakthroughs of Glendale, CA. has introduced the newest addition to their product line - "Soothe Natural Progesterone Cream". The product is a drug-free, chemical-free skin cream for women who are seeking relief from sleepless nights and other uncomfortable symptoms of premenopause, menopause and PMS.

Women in the pre-menopause and menopause years are more and more finding themselves experiencing symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, chronic insomnia, headaches, anxiety, mood swings, depression, and weight gain. John R. Lee, M.D., author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell you About Premenopause", says, "With progesterone as a precursor to so many other hormones, it's easy to see why a progesterone deficiency can cause such a wide range of problems."

What distinguishes "Soothe Natural Progesterone Cream" from other similar products is that it contains no artificial chemicals, colors, preservatives, fragrances, or mineral oil. Dr. John Lee says: "Even when a cream contains progesterone, it will not be effective if it isn't suspended in the proper medium. Products containing mineral oil will prevent the progesterone from being absorbed into the skin. Other products haven't properly stabilized the progesterone, so it deteriorates over time with exposure to oxygen."

Soothe Natural Progesterone Cream provides the same exact progesterone molecule that is produced by the female body, and due to its effective delivery medium, its effectiveness lasts all the way down to the bottom of the jar.

Hot flashes and night sweats are the most common menopause symptoms. The results of a placebo-controlled study on progesterone cream were published recently in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study, which lasted for one year, evaluated the effectiveness of progesterone cream in relieving menopausal hot flashes.

In the treatment group, 25 of the 30 women (or 83 percent) noted improvement or resolution of hot flashes and night sweats. Only 5 of the 26 women in the placebo group (or 19 percent) reported any improvement in their symptoms. The researchers concluded that progesterone cream provides effective relief for hot flashes and night sweats.

Jobee Knight, a nutritional researcher and founder of Nutrition Breakthroughs in Glendale, CA., is someone who fought her own battle against premenopause symptoms, including chronic insomnia. She decided to put her background to use by searching out effective natural solutions. After trying five different brands of progesterone cream, "Soothe" became her choice for both personal use and sale to her customers. She says: "This cream makes me feel physically sound and complete. It turns the roughest sleepless nights into deep, relaxing slumber."

E.D. of Denmark says: "I am doing very well. I apply progesterone cream every morning and evening, and it really "fills in the holes in my body"-- that's what it feels like at least. I can handle restless sleep, insomnia, and aches with it. I had a big migraine a couple of weeks ago, but since then I have adjusted the amount I apply and I believe that has bettered it."

Susan of Los Angeles, CA. says: "I have been using one-fourth teaspoon of progesterone cream twice a day for fourteen days now and notice the night sweats have disappeared and I don't feel so warm all the time."

M.S. of Clearwater, FL. says: "I was experiencing fatigue, loss of appetite, mood shifts, loss of energy, dizziness, and had no strength at all. I had gone for many tests and still couldn't figure out what was wrong. I was at my wits end. I tried the progesterone cream inside my arms and it was like waving a magic wand over my body. I actually felt something shift immediately. I was full of energy. I couldn't believe how good I felt so quickly."

"Soothe Natural Progesterone Cream" is available from Nutrition Breakthroughs.

References:

1. Leonetti H.B., "Transdermal progesterone cream for hot flash symptoms and postmenopausal bone loss." Obstetrics & Gynecology, August 1999.

2. "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause -- The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone" by John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins.

3. "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause -- Balance Your Hormones and Your Life From Thirty to Fifty" by John R. Lee, M.D., Jesse Hanley, M.D., and Virginia Hopkins.

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