Newsletter October 2025: The Myth Surrounding Estrogen & Women’s Health
- Dr. Brenda Tapp
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 3
Dr. Tapp's Thought's
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Health Awareness months are meant to be a time we come together to honour those affected and shine a light on prevention and treatment.
Every year, the conversation grows louder around risk, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer.
But there’s still a myth that needs dismantling: the idea that estrogen is something to be feared.
For decades, estrogen has been blamed for everything from PMS to breast cancer. But the truth is, estrogen is not the villain. In fact, it’s the loss of estrogen, or the drop in its levels, that often leads to the symptoms and conditions many women face.
Mood changes before your menstrual cycle begins? That’s NOT too much estrogen or estrogen dominance, it’s the sudden decline of estrogen that naturally occurs about 7 days before our period. The increased risks of chronic diseases we see after menopause, breast cancer included, are tied to too little estrogen, not too much.
Even in the context of breast cancer, estrogen itself is not the problem. When we use medications like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, we’re not fighting estrogen. We’re strategically blocking certain receptors or reducing the production of estrogen to lower the recurrence risk. These treatments are preventative because the estrogen receptor is a known receptor on the surface of breast cancer cells, not a condemnation of estrogen as a hormone.
When we label estrogen as "bad," we plant a seed in our mind that something intrinsic to being female is dangerous. It breeds shame, fear or mistrust. It disempowers us, and we need to let that shit go!
This is where hormone replacement therapy (HRT) often gets misunderstood. The fear is that HRT will cause breast cancer in a female who has never had breast cancer before. The reality? When used appropriately, HRT does not increase breast cancer risk. For many women, it can be a tool to improve health, well-being, and even reduce risk.
For women with a history of breast cancer, the conversation becomes more nuanced. Most guidelines advise against systemic estrogen, but that doesn’t mean hormones are entirely off the table. Women who have gone through cancer treatments often experience menopause more rapidly and with more severe symptoms than women who go through menopause naturally. "Tough it out, this is your new normal", is not the right response from your healthcare team. There are so many things you can do to support your health, non-hormonal and hormonal.
Vaginal estrogen has been proven safe, even in women with a prior estrogen-positive cancer diagnosis, to help with chronic urinary tract infections, pain with sex, vulvar/vaginal discomfort, vulvar atrophy, libido, incontinence, nighttime waking to urinate, and more.
And in some situations, systemic HRT may still be considered when quality of life demands it — the key here is informed consent. A flat no removes choice, limits discussion, and erases the individual experience of each woman. True informed consent means acknowledging both risks and benefits and allowing the patient to decide what’s right for her. You are a grown ass adult, with the ability to make your own decisions, and your healthcare team should understand that and be open to conversations should you wish to have them.
This month, as we raise awareness around breast cancer and menopause and cancer, let’s also raise awareness around truth. Estrogen is not the enemy. Women deserve the space, the science, and the support to make empowered decisions about their care.
Does any of this resonate with you? Do you want to talk about it further? Hit reply on this email, and my reception team will schedule us a free 10-minute phone call for those who are not currently part of the clinic, or a 30-minute consultation (or longer if needed) for current patients to talk about it.
Looking forward to our next conversation
Clinic News
Perimenopause Decoded Webinar:
Perimenopause is a natural but often confusing transition that can impact your energy, mood, sleep, and overall health.
Join Dr. Nicole Edgar, ND on Tuesday, October 7 at 6:30 pm to learn:
What’s really happening with your hormones
Why these changes matter
simple and practical strategies to support your body during this stage of life
We’ll cover symptoms, root causes, lifestyle and nutrition tips, and holistic options to help you feel more balanced and confident. 👉🏼 Register here!
Clear Skin Starts Within Webinar Replay:
Conditions like acne are best remedied when they are approached both internally and topically. Learn what acne really is, why it happens, and evidence-based tips to heal your skin from the inside out.
Dr. Edgar Vacation Notice:
Dr. Edgar with be away from the clinic throughout the last 2 weeks of October. Her last day in the office is Friday, Oct 17, returning on Monday, Nov 3. If you need a prescription refill or follow-up appointment, please contact us right away, as availability is limited.
Upcoming Clinic Closures:
Our clinic will be closed on Monday, October 13, for Thanksgiving Day — please note that if you have an appointment scheduled on this day, it will run as planned, and your practitioner will let you in at your scheduled start time. Reception will respond to all inquiries when we reopen on Tuesday, October 14, at 9 am.
Perimenopause is a natural transition that every woman experiences, yet so many of us feel caught off guard when it begins.
Starting in our early to mid 40s — sometimes even beginning in your late 30s — this stage marks the natural shift toward menopause as hormone levels begin to fluctuate.
While it’s a normal part of life, the associated symptoms can feel anything but normal. This leaves many women wondering what’s happening to their bodies.
From holistic strategies and nutrition to hormone therapy and lab testing, there are more options than you might think to ease symptoms and protect long-term health.
Dispensary Sales
For a limited time, we’re offering up to 60% off select professional-grade supplements. If you’ve been meaning to restock or try something new, this is a great opportunity to do ( Only while supplies last)
Featured Supplements:
Signature Supplements - Gut Bug Terminator 120 caps
Now $18, Reg $45
Cytomatrix - Flora Matrix IBS 60 caps
Now $12.80, Reg $32
Thorne - 5MTHF 60 caps
Now $12, Reg $30
Upcoming Clinic Closures: Monday - October 13th
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