Menopause Hormone Treatment Linked to Breast Cancer

December 2008

A link between popular hormones used to treat menopause symptoms and breast cancer has been proven by a federal study done by the Women’s Health Initiative. The research found that women who have taken estrogen and progestin for five years are at double the risk of developing breast cancer.

The study also revealed that even women taking the hormones for only two years had a higher possibility of cancer. After the women stopped taking the drugs for two years, however, their risk of cancer returned to a normal level.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that hormones taken for menopausal symptoms should be in the smallest dose possible and for the shortest possible time period. Also, the FDA warns against using hormone therapy as a preventative for heart disease.