Most epidemiologists and oncologists will agree that cancer is one of the scariest diseases that one could ever encounter in their lifetime. That stated, a study published by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) revealed that a little over 1.8 million Americans were diagnosed with some form of cancer in 2020. And an estimated 600,000 of those same individuals lost their lives to one variant of the disease or another. As far as the outlook for 2021, things don’t look much better.
According to a separate study published by the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1.9 million men and women will likely receive a cancer diagnosis by the end of this year. Of those diagnosed, close to 610,000 will most likely lose their battle against the disease and die.
While this news is unsettling, it is not entirely surprising when you consider that there are over 100 cancers that can attack the body at any given time, according to researchers at the National Cancer Institute.
Popular Cancer Treatments
Something to note concerning cancer is that the misfortune of receiving such a dreaded diagnosis is not always mean a death sentence. After all, there is a plurality of time-tested and breakthrough oncology treatments that can send the disease deep into remission.
The most popular time-tested ones include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In the last 30 years, targeted cancer therapy has also grown in popularity among physicians tasked with treating patients diagnosed with cancer. Although there are a variety of targeted therapies, they each accomplish two critical tasks.
Firstly, they block or turn off signals in the body that enable cancer cells to grow. Second, there is evidence showing that such therapies can even signal the cancerous cells to destroy themselves.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) In the Fight Against Cancer
Along with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted cancer therapy, some people, namely those with a human growth hormone (HGH) deficiency, are undergoing HRT to not only boost their low HGH levels but also as a way to win the battle against cancer.
If you’re entertaining the idea of doing the same, there are a few things that you might want to consider as they can go a long way to helping you to make an informed decision. And many of them are brought front and center as this article sets out to answer the following frequently asked questions about HRT:
Is HRT Dangerous For People Already Diagnosed With Cancer?
HRT, which involves using FDA-approved medications to boost low hormone levels in the body, can be dangerous depending on the type of hormonal imbalance an individual has developed.
For instance, studies show that individuals undergoing HRT or combat low HGH levels are at risk of suffering from muscle and joint pain, not to mention a high risk of developing painful carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). And all of this is especially true if they are taking high doses of an HGH replacement drug.
How Are Cancer Cells Affected by Growth Hormone-Based HRT?
Current data from reports of HGH therapy clinic shows that HRT is most effective against cancer when individuals also undergo traditional cancer treatments at the same time.
This combination is especially beneficial for those diagnosed with prostate or breast cancer, say many oncologists and endocrinologists. When coupled with traditional cancer treatments, HRT offers the following benefits to individuals struggling with either of these common forms of cancer:
- Can shrink cancerous tumors before surgery or radiation therapy
- Can minimize the risk of cancer return after it has gone into remission
- Destroys cancerous cells that have metastasized to other parts of the body
Should Cancer Patients Avoid HGH Replacement Drugs Completely?
All in all, alongside being an excellent way to boost low hormone levels, HRT can also be quite beneficial in treating cancer. But it has only been proven effective in combating specific types of cancer. And even then, such treatments can trigger a variety of unpleasant side effects.
That said, whether or not to undergo HRT to beat cancer is something that individuals should discuss at length with their physician to ensure doing so is right for them.
