Health-Bytes: Can HRT Cut Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence?



	Health-Byte-of-the-Week \| Breast Cancer Support Can HRT Cut the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence? Journal of the NCI (May 2001) by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN

	HRT & Breast Cancer: from JAMA 6/99 \| from NCI 1/00 \| from NCI 5/01

	Join HotFlash! Perimenopause Support Amazon.com Breast Cancer Books A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (May 2001) reveals that HRT or hormone replacement therapy after a diagnosis of breast cancer does not increase the risk of recurrence of the disease and may even lower chances that the cancer will return. Dr. Ellen O'Meara, a University of Washington cancer researcher and the lead researcher on this study, suggests that breast cancer patients should not fear hormone replacement therapy or HRT. According to Dr. O'Meara, "The data are reassuring for women who take HRT after a breast cancer diagnosis and HRT need not be ruled out automatically." In their study, Dr. O'Meara and Dr. Noel Weiss along with other co-authors, at the group health Cooperative of Puget Sound, analyzed data from a group of 2,755 women who had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Within this group were 174 women who began using hormone replacement therapy after the cancer diagnosis. Each of the women who were HRT users were matched with other women who were the same age, had the same disease type, and had the same year of breast cancer diagnoses but did NOT use HRT. By studying and following these women, researchers found the rate of breast cancer recurrence for the HRT users was 17 in 1,000 person-years, while for nonusers the rate was 30 per 1,000 person-years. A person-year is one year of human life. Morbidity or death from breast cancer was 5 per 1,000 person-years for HRT users and 15 per 1,000 person-years for non-HRT users. The study found some information possibly suggesting that the HRT might increase the chance of developing breast cancer in the breast that was previously unaffected. Researchers said the risk of developing tumors in the unaffected breast was 12 per 1,000 person-years for the HRT users and 8 per 1,000 person-years for non-users. Dr. O'Meara added that the numbers of HRT users who developed cancer in the unaffected breast were too small to make a strong scientific conclusion. This study provides an opened door for investigating the role HRT may have in breast cancer. Two large studies looking at questions about HRT and breast cancer are going on in Sweden and in Britain. Other articles: HRT & Breast Cancer (from JAMA 6/99) HRT & Breast Cancer (from NCI 1/00) HRT & Breast Cancer (from NCI 5/01) Health-Byte-of-the-Week Estrogen Therapy & Breast Cancer Is there a link? by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN The Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of a study supporting that taking hormones after menopause does not increase the risk of breast cancer, except for some uncommon forms of the disease that are slow growing and highly treatable Find out more. Estrogen Therapy & Cancer Risk by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN The National Cancer Institute published the results of their hormone replacement study on January 26, 2000. This study, Menopausal Estrogen and Estrogen-Progestin Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk, caused quite a stir in the medical community and sent a shock wave through women taking or considering taking any form of HRT (hormone replacement therapy). How much is real and how much is hype. If you do take hormones, should you stop? How big is the risk? Find out more Dr. Jerri Nielsen's South Pole Survival Battle Serving as doctor to the Americans "wintering over" at the South Pole in 1999, Jerri Nielsen made headlines when she discovered a lump in her breast that a self-administered biopsy revealed to be an aggressive, fast-growing cancer. See more about how she treated her own cancer while she was forced to stay in the Antarctic as well as a video clip from the Oprah show. We also have resources to help you calculate your risk of breast cancer, how to do a breast self exam and more. Breast self exam The instructions are simple and come with illustrations. Please take a look and print out a copy for yourself. You are worth it. Make a copy for your best friend, your mom and your sister. Put it into a card and tell them how much you care about them. Do it, before it’s too late.		Susan Love interview more Breast Cancer Books more Women's Health Books Natural Progesterone Cream Natural Woman, Natural Menopause more Healthy Living Books Holistic & Natural Medicine Aromatherapy more smoothie books more blenders FREE smoothie recipes FREE Frozen Concoctions

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