Hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk

The role of estrogen therapy in the risk of breast cancer has been a concern for both physicians and patients. There is some evidence that women taking estrogen who develop breast cancer have a better prognosis. During 8 to 18 years of follow-up of 256 postmenopausal women with breast cancer from ou...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of family medicine 1996-06, Vol.5 (6), p.341-348
Main Author: Gambrell, Jr, R D
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Breast Neoplasms - chemically induced
Breast Neoplasms - chemistry
Breast Neoplasms - mortality
Clinical Trials as Topic
Estrogen Replacement Therapy - adverse effects
Estrogens - administration & dosage
Estrogens - adverse effects
Ethinyl Estradiol - administration & dosage
Ethinyl Estradiol - adverse effects
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis
Meta-Analysis as Topic
Middle Aged
Multicenter Studies as Topic
Postmenopause
Pregnancy
Progestins - administration & dosage
Progestins - adverse effects
Receptors, Estradiol - analysis
Receptors, Progesterone - analysis
Risk Factors
Time Factors
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The role of estrogen therapy in the risk of breast cancer has been a concern for both physicians and patients. There is some evidence that women taking estrogen who develop breast cancer have a better prognosis. During 8 to 18 years of follow-up of 256 postmenopausal women with breast cancer from our hospital, median survival time was 84 months for those who never used estrogen, 80 months for past users, and 143 months for current users. More than 50 studies have shown that there is no increased risk of breast cancer even with long-term estrogen use, while some studies suggest an increased risk. Several studies indicate that when progestogens are added to estrogen therapy, there is a significant reduction in the risk of breast carcinoma. Indirect evidence is accumulating to show why added progestogen should decrease the risk of breast cancer. Preliminary studies further indicate that estrogen therapy, which has been contraindicated in breast cancer survivors in the past, may be safe, and added progestogens may decrease recurrences and deaths. Some medical oncologists and surgeons now advocate estrogen use in women with previous carcinoma of the breast.
ISSN:1063-3987
DOI:10.1001/archfami.5.6.341