Menopause news

HRT and Lung Cancer

23 September 2009

Initial results of the large American Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial were first reported in 2002. Receiving much publicity, these initial results suggested that the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) carries significant risks yet later analysis showed minimal risk and significant benefit for women under the age of 60, the age at which HRT is most likely to be used for control of menopausal symptoms.

The most recent report from the WHI trial has just been published in The Lancet and has shown an association with lung cancer in women who used HRT. Although women in the trial who took combined HRT (estrogen plus progestogen), had no greater risk of developing lung cancer than those who took an inactive tablet (placebo), there was an increase in lung cancer deaths in older women taking HRT. However, in women aged 50-59 in the trial, the numbers of deaths from lung cancers were almost identical for the HRT and placebo groups.

In conclusion, this information should be considered and HRT should be used with caution in older women who may have risks for lung cancer, such as smoking but HRT can be used safely in women under the age of 60, especially in women with an early or premature menopause and/or in women with troublesome menopausal symptoms. It is disappointing that the newspaper headlines reporting this paper did not specify clearly the difference in risk according to age and number of years since menopause when HRT is taken; it is now very clear that these factors strongly determine the risks and benefits of HRT.

Reference

For a statement from the International Menopause Society, click here.(PDF 27Kb)

For a statement from the British Menopause Society, click here.

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