Hormone replacement after breast cancer: is it safe?

Abstract

The use of hormone therapy for climacteric symptoms in patients with breast cancer has become a significant and important point of discussion due in part to the improved survival from this disease in recent years. There is a theoretic risk that exogenous hormones will stimulate the growth of microscopic disease and lead to decreased survival and increased recurrence. In addition, 2 large studies have shown that there is an association between hormone therapy and breast cancer risk in women without an earlier history of breast cancer. Other studies suggest that estrogen alone may have a superior safety profile than estrogen and progesterone in combination. Hormone therapy could be justified for improvement of quality of life when other options have failed and the patient is informed of the risks.

• Authors: Margaret Liotta, Pedro F Escobar
• Journal: Clinical obstetrics and gynecology (Clin Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 54 Issue 1 Pg. 173-9 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1532-5520 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21278517 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Breast Neoplasms (epidemiology)
• Female
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Menopause (drug effects)
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (epidemiology)
• Quality of Life
• Risk