Navigating Estrogen and Breast Cancer: A Story of Healing, Self-Advocacy, and Hope
When Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 35 years old in December 2023, it came as a devastating shock.
Like many women, she had no idea that estrogen—the very hormone essential to female health—could also contribute to cancer growth when the body’s detox pathways are overwhelmed.
However, estrogen dominance isn’t just a concern for women with cancer.
From PMS to fibroids, perimenopausal weight gain to autoimmune conditions, excess estrogen can silently disrupt our health in ways we rarely connect.
What makes this even more concerning is that estrogen isn’t just coming from our own bodies.
We are surrounded by it—hidden in plastics, skincare, cleaning products, and even our food supply.
Even for those avoiding soy and flax, these phytoestrogens are often present in the diets of the animals we eat, making actual avoidance nearly impossible without awareness and strategy.
Sarah’s journey took her through conventional treatments, a genetic BRCA diagnosis, and the difficult decision to undergo a double mastectomy.
Perhaps the most profound part of her story is what happened afterward—choosing a holistic path, questioning everything she had been told about women’s health, and learning to nourish rather than punish her body.
Now, almost one year later, Sarah’s health is thriving.
Her hair has grown back strong (and curly!), her energy has returned, and she is more in tune with her body than ever before.
It wasn’t an easy road.
Even in the holistic health space, we discovered just how many so-called “natural” supplements have estrogenic effects, making her journey to hormone harmony even more complex.
This case study explores Sarah’s story—the realities of estrogen overload, the hidden sources of hormonal disruption, and the power of informed, holistic choices.
Whether you’re navigating your hormone health through cancer, perimenopause, fertility issues, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of estrogen’s impact, Sarah’s journey is a powerful reminder that true healing begins with knowledge and self-advocacy.
The Problem with Estrogen: More Than Just a Female Hormone
Estrogen is often thought of as just a female hormone, but in reality, it plays a crucial role in the body’s growth and development.
It’s one of the primary sex hormones that helps regulate the menstrual cycle, supports bone maintenance, and influences mood.
However, estrogen is also a powerful growth hormone—this means it can stimulate the growth of cells, including those in breast tissue.
When estrogen levels are imbalanced, especially when there is too much estrogen in the system, it can lead to many health issues.
Our bodies have natural detoxification pathways that help regulate estrogen levels.
The liver, in particular, plays a key role in processing and breaking down estrogen.
From there, estrogen is either excreted through the urine or stored in fat cells.
When these detox pathways are compromised—due to factors like poor gut health, high toxin exposure, or an overloaded liver—estrogen can accumulate in the body.
This imbalance, known as estrogen dominance, occurs when the body has too much estrogen relative to other hormones like progesterone.
Estrogen dominance is linked to a variety of hormone-related health issues, including menstrual irregularities, mood swings, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, and, significantly, breast cancer.
In particular, estrogen can fuel the growth of hormone receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer cells.
This is why breast cancer risk can be higher in women with elevated estrogen levels, especially postmenopausal women who are no longer producing estrogen through the ovaries but still face exposure through fat cells and other sources.
Modern life, unfortunately, increases our exposure to estrogen beyond what our bodies would naturally experience.
Environmental factors like xenoestrogens—synthetic compounds found in plastics (BPA), pesticides, personal care products, and even household cleaning supplies—mimic the body’s natural estrogen.
These chemicals disrupt the body’s hormonal balance and contribute to the growing prevalence of estrogen-related conditions.
Additionally, phytoestrogens, found in foods like soy, flax, and sesame, can further exacerbate estrogen dominance when consumed in large amounts, especially if the food source is not organic or hormone-free.
As the modern world exposes us to higher levels of estrogen—both internal and external—understanding how our bodies process and eliminate this hormone becomes even more crucial.
It’s not just about the estrogen produced by our ovaries; it’s about the cumulative effect of all the estrogenic influences we encounter every day.
Hidden Sources of Estrogen in Our Environment and Food System
Estrogen is not just a hormone produced by our body; it’s also something we’re exposed to from various external sources in our environment and food.
Understanding these hidden sources is crucial, especially for women like Sarah, who are navigating estrogen-related health challenges.
Xenoestrogens (Environmental Estrogens)
Xenoestrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. You can read a more in-depth post HERE. These environmental estrogens can disrupt the balance of hormones, contributing to estrogen dominance, which may increase the risk of hormone-dependent cancers, including breast cancer.
Common sources of xenoestrogens include:
- Plastics (BPA): Found in water bottles, food containers, and other plastic products, BPA is a well-known endocrine disruptor that can leach into food and drinks.
- Pesticides: Widely used in agriculture, pesticides often contain estrogen-like chemicals that can contaminate fruits, vegetables, and grains.
- Personal Care Products: Many cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos contain parabens and phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption.
- Cleaning Supplies: Household cleaners, air fresheners, and laundry detergents can contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals that act as xenoestrogens.
- Synthetic Fragrances: Commonly found in everything from perfumes to candles, these chemicals are another hidden source of estrogenic exposure.
These everyday items contribute to the cumulative estrogen load on the body, which can be especially concerning for women managing hormone-related conditions.
Phytoestrogens in Foods
Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds that have a structure similar to estrogen.
While they can offer some health benefits, they can also act as mild estrogens in the body, affecting hormone balance, particularly when consumed in large amounts.
- Direct Sources: Certain foods are rich in phytoestrogens, including:
- Flax: High in lignans, which are a type of phytoestrogen.
- Soy: Contains isoflavones, another form of phytoestrogen.
- Sesame: Rich in lignans, similar to flax.
- Chickpeas: A legume that contains phytoestrogens and is commonly included in plant-based diets.
- Indirect Sources: Phytoestrogens can also enter our diets through animal products. For example, poultry and livestock often consume soy and flax-based feed, which means their meat, eggs and dairy products can carry residual phytoestrogens.
While phytoestrogens are generally considered less potent than the estrogen produced by the body, they can still impact hormone balance, especially for those with estrogen-sensitive conditions.
Being mindful of both direct and indirect sources of phytoestrogens can be an important step in reducing estrogen load and supporting hormone health.
Sarah’s Journey: From Diagnosis to Self-Advocacy
In December 2023, Sarah’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 35 years old.
The news was shocking, and the emotional weight of it felt almost unbearable.
As part of the diagnostic process, she learned that she carried the BRCA gene mutation, which is known to significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.
This discovery added another layer of complexity to her journey, as it meant she was not only dealing with an aggressive diagnosis but also had a genetic predisposition that could impact her long-term health.
Medical Pathway & Challenges
Following her diagnosis, Sarah immediately entered the conventional medical pathway.
Her healthcare team outlined a treatment plan that included chemotherapy and then surgery as the primary interventions.
The decision to undergo these treatments wasn’t easy, but at the time, it felt like the only option available to her.
The physical toll of chemotherapy was grueling—Sarah lost her hair, battled severe fatigue, and faced the constant stress of not knowing what side effects would come next.
Chemotherapy also took a heavy emotional toll on her, as the side effects, combined with the physical changes in her body, created a constant reminder of the cancer.
While conventional medicine offered a pathway to fight the cancer, Sarah began to feel disconnected from her body.
She was struggling with the emotional and physical consequences of the treatments and began questioning whether the toll of these interventions was the right choice for her future health.
A Shift in Perspective
As the treatments progressed, Sarah began to listen more closely to her body.
The fatigue, numerous physical symptoms and the overall disconnect from her well-being became harder to ignore.
She realised that while the medical community was focused on fighting cancer, there was little focus on helping her heal and restore balance to her body.
Sarah began advocating for herself, seeking out additional information, and consulting with practitioners who offered a more holistic approach to healing.
It was during this time that she made a bold decision.
After much reflection, Sarah decided to stop chemotherapy.
This was not an easy decision, but it felt like the right one for her.
She wanted to take control of her health, to make a choice that aligned with her intuition and her vision for the future.
Sarah understood that her journey with cancer was unique, and she was determined to follow a path that supported both her physical and emotional healing, even if it meant stepping away from conventional treatment options.
Post-Surgery: Choosing a Holistic Path
Following her surgery, Sarah made a conscious decision to remain off medication and focus on a holistic, lifestyle-based approach to prevention.
While traditional treatments, such as further chemotherapy and aromatase inhibitors drug treatment, were offered, Sarah knew that long-term health and well-being were about more than just medication.
She wanted to adopt a path that addressed the root causes of her health issues and supported her body in a way that aligned with her vision for the future.
Sarah’s decision to focus on lifestyle-based prevention meant embracing the idea that true healing comes from within.
This included managing her hormones naturally and making mindful choices about nutrition, stress reduction, and physical movement.
She sought to reduce her risk of breast cancer and cancer growth by nurturing her body through healthy habits that would support long-term health and balance.
The Role of Nutrition in Supporting Her Healing
Nutrition became a central pillar of Sarah’s healing journey.
She understood that nutrition played a key role in regulating hormone levels and supporting her body’s detoxification pathways, which were essential for eliminating excess estrogen and other harmful substances.
To address her estrogen-dependent concerns, Sarah made sure to incorporate foods that could help balance her hormones without adding to her estrogen load. She adopted a well-balanced diet rich in protein, good fat, fibre and anti-inflammatory foods, which are critical for eliminating excess estrogen through the digestive system and supporting liver health, as well as foods high in vitamin D, which plays a key role in hormone regulation.
With each meal, Sarah worked to support not only her physical recovery but also to reduce her breast cancer risk by supporting healthy hormone receptor function.
As Sarah explored the world of natural supplements, she quickly encountered a challenge: many popular hormone-balancing supplements contained estrogenic compounds that could increase the load of estrogen in her system.
Supplements like Ashwagandha, milk thistle, Chasteberry, Black cohosh, turmeric, red clover, and CBD are often marketed as helpful for hormone balance, but these compounds can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.
This discovery left Sarah feeling confused and frustrated, as she had initially relied on these products to support her healing.
In her quest for truly supportive, non-estrogenic options, Sarah realised that many supplements that promised to help with menopausal symptoms or hormone balance were not as safe as they seemed, especially for someone in her unique situation.
With careful research and my guidance, she identified natural alternatives that would support her body without contributing to an already elevated estrogen load.
For Sarah, finding the right balance was key. She focused on herbs, vitamins, and minerals through real food sources that supported her body’s healing process, without interfering with her hormone receptors or increasing her risk of estrogen-dependent cancers.
This journey to wellness reminded Sarah that holistic health is about much more than the surface-level solutions often offered by the wellness industry.
It’s about listening to your body, researching thoroughly, and making empowered decisions that support long-term health and hormonal harmony.
Cancer Treatment and Menopause Symptoms
In addition to navigating the challenges of supplements, Sarah also had to contend with the menopause symptoms triggered by her cancer treatment.
Many of the conventional treatments for breast cancer, such as chemotherapy and hormone therapies like aromatase inhibitors, can induce early menopause, especially in younger women who might not have completed their reproductive years.
The side effects of these treatments can be intense and include symptoms like hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and joint pain—all of which are commonly experienced during the natural transition to menopause.
The hormonal changes caused by cancer treatments mimic the effects fluctuating hormone levels in the body, leading to an array of menopausal symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life.
For Sarah, the experience of these symptoms was a harsh reminder of how hormone imbalances, whether from cancer treatment or natural menopause, can disrupt daily life.
However, Sarah’s focus on holistic healing allowed her to manage these symptoms in a way that supported her body’s needs without relying on medications or hormone treatment.
By choosing to focus on natural, non-estrogenic alternatives and supporting her body with nourishing foods, stress reduction, and lifestyle modifications, Sarah was able to mitigate the discomfort caused by these treatment-induced menopause symptoms.
This approach helped her regain energy, improve her mood, and find a greater sense of peace and empowerment in her healing journey.
Thriving One Year Later: A New Approach to Health
Almost one year after surgery, Sarah found herself in a place of true physical recovery.
The hair regrowth that she had hoped for began to flourish, symbolising not just the return of her physical appearance, but the restoration of her overall vitality.
Her body, once depleted and weak from the toll of treatments, had become stronger, more resilient, and full of energy.
She marveled at her body’s ability to heal and regenerate, a testament to her commitment to nourishing it with healthy, hormone-balancing food and lifestyle practices.
As her energy levels steadily increased, Sarah began to enjoy life with a renewed sense of strength.
She could once again engage in activities that brought her joy, whether it was chasing after her children, going to the gym and socialising with friends, or simply feeling more alive in her daily routine.
The physical recovery had given her a sense of empowerment, but the internal healing, especially in relation to her hormones, was what truly set the foundation for her new approach to health.
Hormone Balance & Stress Reduction
Sarah began to recognise the profound impact that stress had on her hormones.
The constant juggling of responsibilities as a mother, running her own business and taking care of her home along with the emotional toll of her cancer journey, had taken its toll on her body.
She understood that chronic stress could disrupt her hormone levels, and she knew that reducing stress was essential for maintaining her hormone balance.
She adopted lifestyle changes that were rooted in stress reduction, incorporating practices like yoga and deep breathing exercises into her daily routine.
These practices not only helped her manage the emotional strain of her journey but also allowed her to remain grounded and centred.
Sarah became more mindful of her emotional well-being, prioritising self-care as a way to support her body’s natural ability to regulate hormones and promote healing.
Her lifestyle choices—like prioritising restful sleep, setting boundaries, and taking time for herself—helped her stay balanced and energised, further reducing the risk of hormone imbalance and cancer recurrence.
As she continued to heal, Sarah felt a renewed sense of inner peace and control, knowing that her efforts to reduce stress were supporting her long-term health.
Stepping into Empowerment
Sarah stepped into a new chapter of her life, now fully embracing her role as a newly single mother who had taken charge of her health.
She was no longer relying solely on medical treatments or outside solutions to manage her well-being. Instead, she trusted her intuition and the wisdom of her body, making choices that reflected her newfound empowerment.
Her journey had taught her that healing wasn’t about quick fixes or external validation; it was about listening to what her body needed and having the courage to follow through on those instincts.
Sarah’s strength came not just from overcoming breast cancer, but from her ability to advocate for herself, trust her body, and make decisions that aligned with her values and goals.
This shift in perspective—moving from a place of fear to a place of strength—had empowered her to take full responsibility for her health, and she felt more in control of her life than ever before.
As Sarah continues to thrive, she remains a living example of how holistic health, self-awareness, and hormone balance can work together to create a life full of vitality and purpose.
Key Takeaways: What We Can Learn from Sarah’s Story
Sarah’s journey offers us profound insights into the role of estrogen and its connection to hormone-driven conditions.
One of the most important lessons is understanding how excess or imbalanced estrogen can contribute to the development of breast cancer and other hormone-dependent cancers.
This understanding is vital for anyone navigating hormone health at any stage of life and striving to protect their body from long-term disease risks.
Another key takeaway is the importance of being aware of the hidden estrogens in our food and environment.
Sources like xenoestrogens found in plastics, pesticides, and personal care products, as well as phytoestrogens in certain foods, can unknowingly contribute to high estrogen levels.
Being mindful of these environmental influences can be a powerful tool in reducing the risks associated with estrogen dominance/higher estrogen in relation to progestone (which should be 100 times more than estrogen for optimal harmony, read more in my post Signs & Symptoms of Low Progesterone HERE).
This story also highlights the power of listening to your body and advocating for yourself.
In Sarah’s case, trusting her intuition and making informed decisions about her health allowed her to chart a course that felt right for her.
This level of self-empowerment is crucial for anyone facing health challenges, especially in a healthcare system that often focuses on treatment rather than holistic prevention.
Finally, Sarah’s experience emphasises the need for a truly holistic approach to health—one that goes beyond just symptom management and addresses the root causes of estrogen imbalances, stress, and lifestyle choices.
Nutritional and lifestyle changes play a significant role in supporting long-term health, improving hormone balance, and helping prevent the recurrence of diseases like breast cancer of which 70-80% of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), meaning the cancer cells have receptors for the hormone estrogen, which can promote cancer growth.
Sarah’s story teaches us that healing is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a dynamic, individualised process that can be supported by a well-rounded approach.
“My cancer journey has taught me many valuable lessons, one of the most important being how precious time and health are.
Since my diagnosis, Sue has been a guiding light, helping me assess my lifestyle and make crucial changes to reduce estrogen levels. She supported me throughout chemotherapy, advising on what to eat and the essential vitamins I needed to stay as healthy as possible.
Given that I carry the BRCA gene, my doctors will eventually recommend removing my ovaries, but I’m determined to make lifestyle changes that will support my health until then.
Sue has been instrumental in this journey, and her knowledge is absolutely unparalleled. Her guidance and support have been life-changing, and I’m incredibly grateful to have had her by my side.
My outlook on life has shifted dramatically, and I feel healthier—both physically and mentally—than I ever have. I truly have Sue to thank for helping me achieve this new sense of well-being.” SARAH
Closing Thoughts
As Sarah continues her journey, it’s not just her resilience that stands out but also the way she’s turned adversity into an inspiring success.
During the darkest days of her battle with breast cancer, she built a thriving hairdressing business—showing true determination, strength, and the ability to rise above challenges.
I encourage you to check out her business and follow her incredible journey – click here.
I am so incredibly proud of Sarah, not just as a stepdaughter but as a woman who has proven that no matter the obstacles, the human spirit can always find a way to thrive.
If Sarah’s journey resonates with you, I encourage you to take the first step toward understanding your health and creating a life that supports your long-term wellness.
Empower yourself with knowledge about hormone harmony, environmental toxins, and lifestyle choices that can enhance your well-being.
If you’re looking for support or more information on how to approach menopause or hormone health holistically, I’d be happy to help guide you on your path.
Discover more information HERE.
