Drop in Breast Cancer Rates Due to Drop in HRT Use

The new findings "add to a large accumulating volume of data," said Dr. Joann Elmore, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, in Seattle. Overall, the data suggest that "the benefit of hormone therapy is less than we had hoped for, and there are risks that need to be considered." Each woman needs to weigh the risks and benefits, taking into account the severity of her symptoms, she added.

Chlebowski suggested that women consider stopping the hormones after two to five years and see if symptoms persist. "A truly safe interval can't be defined," he said.

More information

To learn more about HRT, visit the American Cancer Society.