The Thyroid Fixer – Episode 554

Title: What Happens to Your Body When Estrogen Drops and Why I Chose to Go High Estrogen Despite My Cancer Diagnosis
Host: Dr. Amie Hornaman
Date: August 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful and personal episode, Dr. Amie Hornaman brings listeners into her own hormone journey, openly discussing what happens to the body when estrogen levels plummet. She shares why, even after being diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive uterine cancer, she chose to return to a high (for her) estrogen regimen. Throughout the episode, Dr. Amie breaks down the nuanced, incredibly personal approach necessary for hormone optimization, debunks hormone-cancer myths, and offers support and “hugs and hormones” to her perimenopausal and menopausal listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Hormone Journey and Context

(Starts ~12:35)

• Dr. Amie explains her background with rhythmic (Wiley Protocol) dosing of estrogen and progesterone, which involves fluctuating hormone levels to mimic a natural cycle.
• She emphasizes individuality in hormone response: “You are so beautiful and unique that we all need to find out, you need to find out exactly what’s going to work for you” (16:02).
• After her April 2025 diagnosis of estrogen receptor-positive uterine cancer, Dr. Amie initially panicked and dramatically lowered her estrogen dose.

2. “Hormones Do Not Cause Cancer”

(18:50)

• Dr. Amie dispels common fears about hormones and cancer, stating:

  “Hormones do not cause cancer. If they did, 16, 17 and 18-year-olds… pregnant women would all of a sudden have cancer.” (19:12)

• She references expert conversations (Dr. Jen Simmons, Dr. Lindsey Berkson) and her belief that estrogen replacement is not the cause of cancer, but mismanagement or other factors may be involved.

3. Immediate and Dramatic Effects of Low Estrogen

(22:15–37:40)

• After dropping her estrogen dose, Dr. Amie experiences classic menopause symptoms for the first time:
  • Skin: Rapid loss of elasticity and increased crepiness (“I started seeing my mom’s skin… and then it was mine,” 23:35)
  • Mood: Rapid emotional swings and apathy followed by being overly sentimental (“one day my emotions were gone... next day I’m crying over dog commercials,” 24:56)
  • Hot Flashes/Night Sweats: Appeared within the first week
  • Sexual Health: Loss of libido, vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex
  • Sleep: Disturbance due to the drop in serotonin and melatonin regulation (“Estrogen helps regulate serotonin and melatonin, so lower levels… this is where the mood thing comes in,” 27:11)
  • Brain Fog/Memory: Struggling with word-finding and mental clarity ("... searching for words... the words are not coming," 28:28)
  • Fat Distribution: Increased abdominal and knee fat (“A little fat pocket started occurring right above my knees. Do you hear me?” 29:51)
  • Hair & Skin: Dryness, thinning hair, brittle nails
  • Joint Pain: Noted as commonly overlooked but profoundly influenced by estrogen loss
  • Frequent UTIs: Not experienced personally, but reported by many patients
  • Heart Health Risks: Noticed by some, but not Dr. Amie personally

4. Personalizing Hormone Replacement

(36:00–43:33)

• After her post-surgery recovery, Dr. Amie chooses to resume a higher estradiol dose, tailored to her needs, while also aggressively supporting estrogen metabolism and detoxification.
• She details her supplement regimen: DIM, calcium D-glucarate, resveratrol, quercetin, regular saunas, and methylated B vitamins.

  “I am doing all the things to make my body uninhabitable for cancer and I am doing all the things to make sure that I properly use that estradiol and then detox it. Use it for good, push it out.” (42:45)

• She emphasizes the need for regular monitoring: “I will do more frequent lab work to check my estradiol, my estrone... I will most likely do a repeat Dutch test about once every four to six months.” (44:07)
• Strong focus: Find your perfect dose—one size does not fit all.

5. Hormone Pathways and Lab Monitoring

(44:00–47:40)

• Explanation of estrogen forms (estradiol/E2, estrone/E1, estriol/E3) and their metabolic pathways.
• The goal is to keep estrone lower than estradiol.
• She actively tracks the metabolites and makes sure to optimize for “the 2 pathway,” which is safer, and avoid the 4 and 16 pathways, which can be growth-promoting and theoretically riskier.

6. Debunking Hormone Fear and Embracing Quality of Life

(47:41–end)

• A call for personalized care and pushing back against “cookie cutter” clinics.
• Noteworthy quote:

  “[Hormones] give us life and quality of life. We can’t live without them. You have to find the right balance. You have to find what works for you.” (51:35)

• Message to men: “When you lose your testosterone, your quality of life plummets. That’s your get shit done hormone. Dad bods are bad.” (53:50)

7. “Hugs and Hormones”

(56:11)

• Dr. Amie wraps up with her signature warmth, reiterating her empathy for listeners and her commitment to their journey:

  “I want to give you a hug and hormones. That’s going to be a new saying. Hugs and hormones all around.” (56:11)

• Top tip: Don’t let estrogen fall off a cliff—support and optimize it proactively.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On individuality:

  “You are a unique individual. You’re not a study, you’re not an algorithm, you shouldn’t be treated as such.” (16:02)

• On hormones and cancer:

  “Hormones do not cause cancer... If estrogen was bad, if high hormones were bad, kids and pregnant women would be at the top of the list for cancer.” (19:12)

• On skin changes:

  “I started seeing my mom’s skin… and then it was mine.” (23:35)

• On the first drop in estrogen:

  “The amount of symptoms that hit so quickly was jaw dropping.” (25:11)

• On hormone loss for men:

  “Dad bods are not cool. Dad bods are bad. Dad bods mean you have excess abdominal fat and man boobs.” (53:52)

• Emotional sign-off:

  “I want to give you a hug and hormones.” (56:11)

Important Timestamps

• 13:00: Dr. Amie’s background and experimentation with rhythmic hormone dosing
• 18:50: Discussion on hormone-cancer misconceptions
• 22:15: The initial physical changes after lowering estrogen
• 27:50: Sleep, mood, and cognitive changes from low estrogen
• 29:51: Body composition shifts—belly and knee fat, skin texture
• 36:00: Decision to return to higher estrogen and estrogen detox strategies
• 44:00: Lab monitoring and estrogen metabolite pathways
• 47:41: Big picture—personalized medicine, no “cookie cutter” protocols
• 56:11: Compassionate conclusion: “Hugs and hormones all around”

Final Takeaways

• Estrogen drops cause immediate, surprising physical and mental symptoms; early, proactive hormone optimization is key.
• Hormone therapy, even after a cancer diagnosis, can be appropriate—when individualized, monitored, and supported by healthy metabolism and detoxification.
• Dr. Amie’s approach is empathetic, science-driven, and resistant to one-size-fits-all medicine:

  “Personalize your dose. Don’t let your estrogen fall off a cliff.” (54:56)

• Her journey has deepened her compassion for others—serving as both education and validation for listeners navigating similar struggles.

Resource Links Mentioned:

• Prior episode on Dr. Amie’s cancer journey
• Interviews with Dr. Jen Simmons and Dr. Lindsey Berkson (about hormones and cancer)
• Dutch testing and hormone optimization discussions

Tone:
Direct, compassionate, slightly irreverent, and supportive—full of tough love, practical advice, and genuine understanding for women (and men!) struggling with hormone imbalance.