Those of us who pay attention to these things already knew about the increased risk of breast cancer for women who take hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, but now there is a new study that says using hormones to treat symptoms of menopause may increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer as well.
The study is somewhat controversial, in that the actual number of "extra" cases of ovarian cancer that can be blamed on the use of HRT is quite small, but if you have concerns, read the article and then discuss the issue with your doctor.
I, for one, am not using any kind of HRT, and never will, because I have a hormone-positive cancer, so the whole issue is moot for me.
@ Jeanne Sather 2009.
Jeanne - I'm one of those people who believe my cancer was caused by HRT. Although I didn't know it at the time, I had lots of risk factors for OVCA when my doc put me on HRT. A year later, I was diagnosed with OVCA. I fought taking the hormones for years, finally gave in when she (a leading women's health person) insisted I was being foolish to resist.
Trust your instincts, folks. This is bad stuff.
Think of you, Jeanne, and admiring the way you take on your "challenges."
Posted by: Julie Mason | July 22, 2009 at 06:05 AM
Julie--I am so sorry to hear this. What a nasty irony that you didn't want to take the hormones and were persuaded against your better judgement.
I wouldn't have wanted to take them either--not that I was ever given the choice--but for years HRT was just standard operating procedure for middle class women going through menopause ...
Posted by: jeanne Sather | July 22, 2009 at 06:36 AM