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HRT lowers risk of colo-rectal cancer

11 Sept 2009

Recent research from the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa, Israel has shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may reduce the risk of colo-rectal cancer in postmenopausal women. The study indicates a reduction of risk by more than half in women taking combined estrogen-progestin oral pills.

The study, published in the online "Journal of Clinical Oncology" compared the self-reported use of HRT from 2,460 peri/postmenopausal women among 2,648 patients with colo-rectal cancer and 2,566 controls. The study adjusted for demographics, aspirin and statin use, sports activity, family history of colo-rectal cancer, and vegetable consumption. There was no reduction in risk in women who took aspirin or played sports but women who took HRT had a 63 percent reduction in risk of colo-rectal cancer compared to women who had not taken HRT, after adjustment for other known risk factors. Researchers caution that further study is necessary to understand the causes for such differences.

Previous studies have also shown a reduction in risk of cancer of the colon or rectum and although we do not yet understand why this might occur, this benefit of HRT should be taken into account when weighing up the risks and benefits of the use of HRT, although the main indications for using HRT are still for control of menopausal symptoms and/or for treatment of early or premature menopause.

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