Sarah Whitlock-Breast Cancer Survivor/ "My back is so weak it's difficult to do little things without sitting down."

Painful joints, hot flashes, osteoporosis.. all menopausal symptoms, Sarah would like to live without. But because of her breast cancer history.. estrogen therapy scares her.

Sarah Whitlock-"I guess I was too afraid to do it because of the world cancer terrified me.. anybody else I guess."

Studies show estrogen therapy to reduce heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, vaginal dryness and hot flashes. researchers also proved it can enhance memory in Alzheimer's patients and promote longevity.

But for years, scientists theorized that estrogen may also promote cell division in breast tissue hence increasing cancerous mutations.

Dr. Luana Kyselka-Beaumont-"Too much estrogen in the body.. prone to estrogen dependent cancers."

But today, new research shows patients like Sarah can take estrogen therapy safely.

Dr. David Decker-Beaumont Hospital- "What we've learned is that hotflashes, painful intercourse.. 90 percent goes away.. nicely for the estrogen deficiency symptoms."

Dr. David Decker and his colleagues at Beaumont hospital allowed 175 breast cancer survivors to receive estrogen.. they discovered that hormone replacement therapy dramatically relieved osteoporosis without increasing cancer risk.

Dr. David Decker-"The assumption that the cancer would come back.. that didn't happen."

For Sarah.. weighing in the pros and cons of estrogen is a delicate balancing act.. and she's hoping this latest research will tip the scales in her favor.

Denise-"So are you still cautious?

Sarah Whitlock-"I'm still cautious, but I want something to help because it's getting really bad."

20 years ago medical organizations would've said it was malpractice to give a breast cancer survivor estrogen. But today that kind of thinking is changing. Dr. Decker cautions that any estrogen therapy plan must be individualized and like any patient, cancer survivors need to discuss their options with their doctors.

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