For women taking hormones after menopause, does it make a difference in their risk for breast cancer whether they take estrogen-only or estrogen plus progesterone?
A large study published in Jan, 2000 found a higher risk of breast cancer among women taking estrogen plus progestin than women taking estrogen alone. The study found that women who took estrogen plus progestin had a 40% higher risk of breast cancer than women who did not take hormones. Women who took estrogen alone had a 20% higher risk of breast cancer than women who did not take hormones. The study found these effects in women taking hormones currently or within the previous 4 years, but not in women who stopped taking hormones more than 4 years ago. However, more research is needed to make firm conclusions about hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. When looking more closely at the data, the findings showed that only lean women had an increased risk from taking hormones. The study wasn’t large enough to determine whether taking hormones affects other women in the same way. Additionally, the study did not look at the doses of estrogen or progestin taken, which may be i
Related Questions
- For women taking hormones after menopause, does it make a difference in their risk for breast cancer whether they take estrogen-only or estrogen plus progesterone?
- Is there an increased risk of breast cancer and abnormal mammograms in women taking estrogen alone (without progestin) or other E+P formulas?
- Is there an increased risk of breast cancer in women taking estrogen alone?
