The recent findings that Estrogen-only therapy helps cut breast cancer by 23% has been published in The Journal of the American Medical Association on April 5, 2011. The findings are based on the tracking the participants in the so-called Women's Health Initiative that had included 10,739 women who had previously had a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of uterus. This study has been stopped in 2004 after stroke risks were seen in the group. Although the women had stopped taking the therapy in 2004, they had been monitored as is the normal practice in any large clinical study. The drop of 23% in cancer rate compared to placebo group is significant. For another group in the WHI study that was taking Estrogen-Progestin combination, the therapy was halted in 2002 as the elevated risks for breast cancer and heart attacks were detected. Usually Estrogen is recommended for relieving hot flashes and other symptoms related to menopause, Progestin is recommended to minimze the effect on uterus. The combination therapy was given to women who didn't have a previous hysterectomy. The findings from the Estrogen-only group, however, didn't show any improvement/deterioration related to blood clots, stroke, hip fracture, colon cancer or overall death rates compared to Placebo group.
Source: The Dallas Morning News (April 6, 2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment