Could Perimenopausal Estrogen Prevent Breast Cancer? Exploring the Differential Effects of Estrogen-Only Versus Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women in the western world, accounting for up to 30% of all cancers in women. There is a long-standing controversy about the potential link to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with large observational studies suggesting that HRT increases the risk, while...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical medicine research 2022-01, Vol.14 (1), p.1-7
Main Authors: Manyonda, Isaac, Sinai Talaulikar, Vikram, Pirhadi, Roxanna, Ward, John, Banerjee, Dibyesh, Onwude, Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Review
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Summary:Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women in the western world, accounting for up to 30% of all cancers in women. There is a long-standing controversy about the potential link to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with large observational studies suggesting that HRT increases the risk, while the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a prospective, randomized placebo-controlled trial, has reported several times over a period of 20 years that combined (estrogen and progestogen) HRT increases the risk, while estrogen-only HRT given to women who have had a prior hysterectomy, is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing breast cancer. Evidence from the randomized trial shows a significant reduction in both incidence of and mortality from breast cancer in women who took estrogen replacement therapy; this message needs to be presented clearly and robustly so that it can help women with decision making when considering HRT for menopause.
ISSN:1918-3003
1918-3011
DOI:10.14740/jocmr4646