DAWN HARPER ASK THE DOCTOR

Doctor Dawn Harper answers all your questions

Do natural menopause cures work?

Q I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and was told I should stop my HRT immediately. I had been on it for three years and felt really well, but since stopping the hot flushes and night sweats have become unbearable. Is it safe to take a herbal supplement? I’ve been reading about phytoestrogens.

A Phytoestrogens are compounds found in foods, such as whole grains, dried beans, peas, fruit, cauliflower, broccoli and soy products. Their relationship with breast cancer is not clear. It’s been suggested that consuming phytoestrogens may reduce the risk of recurrence of breast cancer, but other studies have raised concerns about the possibility they could encourage proliferation of cancer cells. Speak to your GP about a non-hormonal blood pressure treatment called clonidine.

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