Can Breast Cancer Survivors Take Hormones? Learn About Testosterone Therapy (#119) - a podcast by Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson

In the introduction, you will learn one of the new uses for oxytocin as well as a huge meta-analysis review study demonstrating that the most commonly used drugs for Alzheimer’s disease not only don’t work, but make dementia worse.

The major part of this show discusses the science on how “maleness” protects “femaleness” — how Mother Nature designed breasts to be protected by male sex steroid hormone signals.

Dr. Berkson dives into the peer review literature from 2010 to the present. We explore the use of testosterone therapy immediately “after” breast cancer treatment has ended, and one case study in which testosterone and aromatase inhibitor pellets were placed next to the tumor during chemo.

Much of this research comes from prestigious multi-centers across the globe from Greece to the NIH.

The science is suggesting that breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors and testosterone, have less recurrence of cancer. And the aromatase therapy works better in tandem than by itself. This means testosterone helps control growth in the breast (the hallmark of cancer is growth out of control). Testosterone along with aromatase inhibitors also appears to make breast cancer cells “die” more effectively (apoptosis).

Hormones signal receptors. The human breast has many testosterone “receptors” to receive testosterone signals. Testosterone delivers “anti-cancer” protective signals to the breast.

When testosterone sex steroid signals are delivered into a receptor, when the signals get deep into the genes of these receptors, breast cells are informed to “stop growing out of control”. Breast cancer cells are encouraged to “die” especially when the patient is also on an aromatase inhibitor (a drug blocking testosterone’s transformation into estrogen).

The ratio of “free” estrogens to “free” testosterone has much to do with breast safety.

Stay tuned for the next show on the underlying mechanisms describing exactly how testosterone acts as an anti-cancer hormone at the breast. You will also learn that testosterone protects against prostate cancer too, not just breast cancer. You will learn more of how to test your estrogen to testosterone ratios, and even learn about foods, nutrients and lifestyle habits that help maintain healthy T to E ratios (testosterone to estrogen).

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Website of Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson