Certain hormone replacement therapies have long been tied to an increased risk of breast cancer. Now, new research suggests that in some cases, that risk can persist for more than a decade.
The research, published in the journal The Lancet on [August 29], found that risks increased steadily the longer the hormone replacement therapy was used, and were greater for estrogen-progestogen hormone therapies than for estrogen-only hormone therapy.
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Specifically, the research suggests that the estimated incidence of breast cancer at ages 50 to 69 was tied to an increased risk — from 6.3% of women who never used hormone replacement therapy to 8.3% of those who used the therapy daily for five years.
That’s an increase of about one extra cancer case in every 50 users of the therapy, according to the research.
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“These findings should not put women off taking HRT if the benefits — such as protection of bones and decrease in cardiovascular risk — outweigh the risks,” [gynecologist Janice Rymer] said. “To put the risk into context, a woman has greater risk of developing breast cancer if she is overweight or obese compared to taking HRT.”
Read full, original post: Breast cancer risk linked to hormone therapy can persist for years, study says
