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Good news for Hormone Replacement Therapy?
WDI newsletter Summer 2009
RIDGEWOOD, New Jersey — Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) alleviates the discomfort of menopause by restoring estrogen and progesterone to premenopausal levels. But research in the last decade found a dramatic increase in the occurrence of breast cancer among women who took HRT. Now there is some good news for women who suffer from the effects of menopause but are concerned with the risks of treatment. The newest studies have found that there is a window of safety for women who take HRT and the risks for all users diminish after treatment is stopped.
Studies conducted by the American Cancer Society documented a safe period of just under two years. The risk of breast cancer rose steadily with longer use but declined when therapy was halted. Researchers at the Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center found that the risk of returns to “baseline” about two years after ending treatment. In this study, women who took HRT for five-and-a-half years presented a 26 per cent increase in risk for breast cancer, compared to the group taking a placebo. By ten years, that rate nearly doubled. The risk for all groups diminished after treatment ended.
Recently, “bioidenticals,” supplements that mimic the role of hormones, have been gaining support by some groups of physicians. Bioidenticals are defined as custom-mixed formulas containing various hormones that are chemically identical to those naturally made by our bodies. However, these supplements have not been tested in large clinical trials and are not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety or effectiveness.
The American Cancer Society recommends that women discuss the risks vs. benefits of HRT with their doctors to determine the best treatment. Women who decide to use HRT are advised to take the lowest dose for the shortest term possible and get annual cancer screening.
Women’s Health Imaging Quarterly is published four times a year by Women’s Digital Imaging of Ridgewood, New Jersey, a private practice led by Dr. Lisa Weinstock, specializing in detecting and diagnosing conditions such as breast cancer, gynecologic diseases and osteoporosis. WDI offers a comfortable, private environment, the accuracy of the most advanced diagnostic instruments, and exceptional care from compassionate, highly qualified female doctors.
© Copyright 2008 Women’s Digital Imaging of Ridgewood, New Jersey, All Rights Reserved
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