Bitter Pill : Contraception and Cancer

I was walking (as per usual) near the entrance of SM Megamall and I saw a new booth. It was one that was for a campaign (or ad) about awareness of which contraceptive type matches a specific Filipina's lifestyle. I was curious about a lot of things and deathly afraid of going to an OBGYNE who knows my mother (I don't like doctors so I am sure that I would ask my mom for help about this eventually.) Also I want to have her OB since that person led my mom to 4 successful normal births and complications regarding her breast cancer. So you see my dilemma and I will type it right here. *whispers my secret*

So I told the doctor (female, as it makes women more comfy - campaign managers, two thumbs up for that!) that I used to be fairly irregular like having it twice a month, then after taking pills I got fatter. I mentioned that after I stopped the real problem arose. I didn't get my period at all until it settled to 2x a year. Endometrial cancer was mentioned. And an awful truth that I didn't get from all my reading and simple Q and A research didn't reveal. I hit a risk button on the breast cancer panel! There is a kind of estrogen depended breast cancer! I could've found out about it had I been brave enough to go to a doctor before I tried the cheap trust pills. This, if it ever becomes a cause, might be my only regret in my entire college life. It would not be the love or the lifestyle but it would be this. Still, I didn't get pregnant which was the plan. But now that I know I can't take any estrogen related pills or contraception, I feel slightly doomed.
It was a good thing that I mentioned that. It opened my mind to a lot of things. And the consultation was for free! I got a prescription for something that would force me to get a period. I was also told that if push comes to shove I can take pills to balance my hormones. BUT I was told to get an ultra-sound first before I do that. I will try those pills first and check if things normalize from there. I usually have my period during June and December so I might get some positive results (not the bad positive kind).

Now I know that I shouldn't take anything that might increase the risks of me getting cancer. And someday I want to have a kid or kids. So I need to check things out better. I can take a mamo when I am 35 but from now until then, I need to make some serious changes in my lifestyle. She said that I need to loose weight. (Apparently we store estrogen in our fatty fat cells. MOTIVATION TO LOOSE WEIGHT! Yey!)

To my friends who are taking Medicine, please could somebody PLEASE specialize in Gynecology. Be an angel. I need one who can be mum and not tell my mom.

*shhh*


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T_T For someone who has internet access and is a bit of a hypochondriac, I really oughta not hear stuff from a doctor that I can Google.

Some of the risk factors do have a hereditary aspect to them. Beginning menstruation at an early age or starting menopause later in life are risk factors for endometrial cancer (more menstrual cycles). A woman's menstrual history can follow her mother's and thus she will inherit similar risks. Also, having a family history of breast, colon, or ovarian cancer is associated with endometrial cancer. All those cancers have a hereditary component.

Women who are overweight (they store estrogens in their fat), never had children or had them later in life (they have more menstrual cycles) have diabetes or high blood pressure (this may be associated with obesity), take estrogens without progestins, or take the drug tamoxifen have higher rates of endometrial cancer.

On the bright side, taking birth control pills (pills set estrogen lower than natural), exercising regularly (stretches time between cycles), and eating a high soy diet is correlated with a lower risk of this cancer. Smokers also have a lower risk (smoking decreases estrogens), but this is hardly a reason to take up smoking.

http://www.estronaut.com/a/endometrial_cancer_causes.htm

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I don't have any of the symptoms. But according to what I read it is asymptomatic if it's early since you have to be a little older than I am to have it. T_T

But an ounce of prevention is worth of cure.

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http://www.womenshealthchannel.com/dub/index.shtml

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding that is not caused by an underlying anatomical abnormality, such as a fibroid, lesion, or tumor. DUB is the most common type of abnormal uterine bleeding.

http://www.womenshealthchannel.com/dub/treatment.shtml

The treatments are making me feel sick.
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http://www.medicinenet.com/polycystic_ovary/article.htm

What is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), also known by the name Stein-Leventhal syndrome, is a hormonal problem that causes women to have a variety of symptoms. It should be noted that most women with the condition have a number of small cysts in the ovaries. However, women may have cysts in the ovaries for a number of reasons, and it is the characteristic constellation of symptoms, rather than the presence of the cysts themselves, that is important in establishing the diagnosis of PCOS.
PCOS occurs in 5% to 10% of women and is the most common cause of infertility in women. The symptoms of PCOS may begin in adolescence with menstrual irregularities, or a woman may not know she has PCOS until later in life when symptoms and/or infertility occur. Women of all ethnicities may be affected.

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Future Ne Sarang, can't we just adopt instead?
*Need to start saving for future medical bills*