If most breast cancer feeds on estrogen, why is diagnosis more common AFTER menopause?

[Anonymous]

Something I’ve always wondered! Our estrogen levels are very low after menopause so why are we more likely to be diagnosed with an estrogen-positive BC at that time of life?

Thanks for any feedback!

[Anonymous]

Just to add - I understand that we continue to produce estrogen in our fat cells after menopause, but wouldn’t we be more at risk when are ovaries are producing higher levels of estrogen?

[Anonymous]

Because HRT. Women are on BCP in their teens through forever. All that estrogen builds up. I stopped taking BCP in my 20s and will never do HRT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because HRT. Women are on BCP in their teens through forever. All that estrogen builds up. I stopped taking BCP in my 20s and will never do HRT.

Nonsense. You know scientists actually study this? If HRT or hormonal birth control was a massive risk in breast cancer, the statistics would bear it out - they don’t. The risk of both is small, much smaller than other lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, alcohol use, etc.

Cancer is generally a disease of aging, with a few exceptions. The older you are, the higher your risk for most cancers. I highly recommend you read The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.

[Anonymous]

Because age is the primary risk for breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

Not all BC is estrogen triggered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because age is the primary risk for breast cancer.

This.