Nnoooooooooooooo i am in peri. Should've been more clear.....mom got thru MENO in about a year. With the symptoms, anyway. She told me peri was about 5 years, and wasn't a big deal for her. Genie, i appreciate your insight. However, i have to go with what i see. And the incidence of cancer in general, has risen sharply in the past 20 years. Just don't want to do anything to exacerbate the situation. The women who i know on HRT with cancer, all lead healthy lifestyles.....the HRT is the only suspect thing that they all have in common. Fortunately, it is an easier decision for me. No osteo, heart, or anything ugly like that in my genes.