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Cancer.gov's Take on HRT & Breast CancerThe use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) poses a dilemma for the rising numbers of breast cancer survivors, many of whom enter menopause prematurely as a result of therapy. HRT has generally not been used for women with a history of breast cancer because estrogen is a growth factor for most breast cancer cells in the laboratory; however, empiric data on the safety of HRT after breast cancer are limited. The only reported randomized trial comparing HRT with no hormonal supplementation included 345 evaluable breast cancer patients with menopausal symptoms and was terminated early because of an increased incidence of recurrences and new primaries in the HRT group (hazard ratio = 3.5; 95% confidence interval. In total, 26 women in the HRT group and 7 in the non-HRT group developed recurrences or new primaries. This study, however, was not double blinded, and it is possible that patients on HRT were monitored more closely. Further, a companion trial of similar design did not show an increased risk. This second trial has not been reported. Until, and if further data becomes available, decisions concerning the use of HRT in patients with breast cancer will have to be based on the results of this one study and on inferences from the impact of HRT use on breast cancer risk in other settings. A comprehensive intervention, including education, counseling, and non-hormonal drug therapy, has been shown to reduce menopausal symptoms and to improve sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors.
Copyright 2005, | buy tramadol Bioidentical Medical Dictionary | Bioidentical Pages
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Copyright 2005, |
buy tramadol Bioidentical Medical Dictionary | Bioidentical Pages
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