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July 27, 2007

Link Between Breast Cancer and Hormone Therapy

Topics: Medicine

According to oncologist Andrew Glass, lead author of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., have concluded that there is definitely a link between breast cancer and the use of menopausal hormone therapy, particularly estrogen-progestin treatment combinations:

[...] "It's not exact cause and effect, but it's as close as you can be in epidemiology," Glass says. "There is no other explanation [besides hormone therapy] for what we've found."

"This is a corroboration...other analyses in the U.S. and Europe have shown the same thing," says Donald Berry, a professor and chairman of the biostatistics department at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

But does hormone therapy--once touted as being heart-healthy and preventing bone-thinning osteoporosis--offer any benefits? "To get rid of hot flashes and to make it through the night, it's probably a reasonable thing," Berry says. "But don't count on it having any long-term beneficial effects."

Glass stresses that there are other treatments for cardiovascular and bone health that are more effective and less risky. "The only reason to take...[hormones]...now is for menopausal symptoms," he says, "and it should be the smallest dose for the shortest time."

More here ...

Related:
New Gene Linked To Breast Cancer Risk Identified (hat tip - Maggio O)
Survey Shows Misconceptions About Personal Risk Of Cancer Common.

Posted by Richard at July 27, 2007 4:07 PM

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• Link Between Breast Cancer and Hormone Therapy - Jul 27, 2007