Risks Of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
February 27th 2008 03:10
How much do we know about the risks of hormone replacement therapy ? To recall, it was during the 1960's that doctors began to prescribe a short term regimen to control menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and dryness, Physicians prescribed HRT for it's potential benefits such as reducing illness or death from heart diseases, bone loss or osteoporosis. These benefits, however, are balanced by a possible increased risk of breast cancer and cancer of the uterus, the most common cancer in women.
Several studies suggest that long term estrogen therapy increases the risk of uterine cancer by up to six-fold over that seem in women who do not take estrogen. This finding has led to the prescription by doctors of estrogen and progestin as a means to maintain the cardiac and bone benefits of estrogen without increasing the likelihood of uterine cancer. Some studies show that the risks on breast cancer increases by 15 to 40 percent after long durations of estrogen replacement, with or without progestin.
Dr. Tranquilino Elicano Jr, an oncologist, advised women who choose not to take hormone therapy to find ways and means to minimize heart disease and osteoporosis. Alternative approaches to protecting the heart, according to Dr. Elicano, include not smoking, following a regular exercise program, and getting treatment for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Several studies suggest that long term estrogen therapy increases the risk of uterine cancer by up to six-fold over that seem in women who do not take estrogen. This finding has led to the prescription by doctors of estrogen and progestin as a means to maintain the cardiac and bone benefits of estrogen without increasing the likelihood of uterine cancer. Some studies show that the risks on breast cancer increases by 15 to 40 percent after long durations of estrogen replacement, with or without progestin.
Dr. Tranquilino Elicano Jr, an oncologist, advised women who choose not to take hormone therapy to find ways and means to minimize heart disease and osteoporosis. Alternative approaches to protecting the heart, according to Dr. Elicano, include not smoking, following a regular exercise program, and getting treatment for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
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