Breast Cancer Surgery Not Affected by Monthly Cycle The timing of breast cancer surgery in relation to a woman's menstrual cycle has no influence on her survival, say researchers from France. Earlier research on the subject remains controversial, with recent studies giving contradictory results, according to Dr. Pascal Pujol from Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier in Montpellier, France and associates. To resolve the controversy, the authors looked at menstrual history and blood hormone levels in 360 women with breast cancer. They tried to determine whether there was any link between estrogen, progesterone or gonadotropin levels and the outcome after breast cancer surgery. Gonadotropins are hormones that stimulate ovarian function. None of the factors that usually predict survival--the stage of the tumor, the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes or the presence of hormone receptors on the tumor cells--were related to the phase of the menstrual cycle, the authors report. 05/18/2001; Cancer Online Thanks to Reuters Health Actual study from Cancer Online, May 2001 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.