Menopause news

Breast cancer risk and long term estrogen only therapy

8 January 2007

A study from Finland reported in Obstetrics and Gynecology has shown that women over the age of 50 who used estradiol in tablet or transdermal form (patches or gels) for more than 5 years did have an increased risk of breast cancer.
All Finnish women older than 50 years who used oral or transdermal estradiol, (84,729), oral estriol (7,941) or vaginal estrogens (18,314) for at least 6 months during 1994-2001 were identified and were followed up until the end of 2002. There was no increase in risk of breast cancer for the women taking estradiol for less than 5 years but there were 2-3 extra cases of breast cancer per 1,000 women in women taking oral or transdermal estradiol for more than 5 years. No increase in breast cancer was seen in women taking oral estriol or vaginal estrogens, even when used for more than 5 years.
Comment
The WHI trial previously showed no increase in breast cancer risk in the women who had had a hysterectomy and took estrogen only therapy. The debate therefore continues but meanwhile, women who wish to continue estrogen therapy, and indeed any type of systemic HRT for more than 5 years after the age of 50, should be aware of the concern about increased risk of breast cancer and should try to balance risk against benefit.
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