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

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Isaac Manyonda, Vikram Sinai Talaulikar, Roxanna Pirhadi, John Ward, Dibyesh Banerjee, Joseph Onwude
• Journal: Journal of clinical medicine research (J Clin Med Res) Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 1-7 (Jan 2022) ISSN: 1918-3003 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 35211211 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright 2022, Manyonda et al.