I’m scared to use oestrogen cream in case I get cancer again – but I long for intimacy with my husband
DEAR DEIDRE: MY gynaecologist has given me oestrogen cream to help me to have sex with my husband, but I’ve had cancer, so I’m scared to use it.
We’ve been together for 40 years and are both 62.
We’ve not had sex in a long time, as it was so painful for me.
We tried all sorts of things but nothing seemed to help. We’d have loved children but it was never possible.
My husband has been wonderful about it, so patient and kind.
I’d love to have a bit of intimacy back in our lives to help us to connect again.
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I had breast cancer seven years ago which my doctor said was due to too much oestrogen.
Now my gynaecologist says I could still use an oestrogen cream to make sex more comfortable.
But I’m scared to use it, in case I get cancer again.
DEIDRE SAYS: There is a lot of caution around women taking HRT when there’s a history of cancer but oestrogen cream is different.
The data suggests that if used vaginally, it is very unlikely to raise your chance of getting cancer.
You could ask for further advice from your specialist, or for more information, contact Macmillan Cancer Support (macmillan.org.uk, 0808 808 0000) who support people living with cancer, their families and their carers.
There are also other options to help with sex, as my support pack, Help For Painful Sex explains.