QuestionI have been taking bio-identical hormones for the past two years - ie, estrogel (1 pump per day) and prometrium (200 mg for 2 weeks every month) to help with menopausal symptoms - eg, brain fog, night sweats, hot flashes etc. During the past year I have developed very painful, swollen underarm lymph nodes. At times it feels like electric shocks going through my armpits! Thinking they might become cancerous - plus eager to stop the pain - I stopped the hormones completely and after two weeks was relieved to see them subside and eventually disappear. My questions are:
1. Why would taking the hormones result in these painful lumps.
2. Can these lumps become cancerous?
3. Would it be the prometrium or estrogel that cause the underarm lumps? And what alternate bio-identical hormones could I use that would not cause such lumps?
Thank you for your time and suggestions.
AnswerYou should be evaluated by your regular physician. Breast tissue is hormone reactive and the lumps themselves could be breast tissue responding to the hormones. You need to bring in your hormones at the visit. It could be either hormone causing problems, more likely the estrogel. However, you need a sound breast examination and a mammogram. The hormone substitution question is premature as the etiology of the lumps is not known .
