New study firmly ties hormone use to breast cancer

(AP) -- Taking menopause hormones for five years doubles the risk for breast cancer, according to a new analysis of a big federal study that reveals the most dramatic evidence yet of the dangers of these still-popular pills.

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5/5 after 8 votes

• Keter - Dec 14, 2008
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  Based on the women I've known, the risk of getting cancer depends not so much on hormones but on genetic predisposition and diet. A woman who is not predisposed to cancer (this can be roughly gauged by their family history and absence of precancerous skin damage from sun exposure) probably isn't at a higher risk, and this group also seems to benefit the most from HRT (increased vitality and remission of symptoms), whereas the at-risk group (determined by the criteria above) seems to have lots of side-effects (bleeding, tenderness in the breasts, etc.).
  
  Complicating the equation is environmental exposure to chemicals that affect hormones, something that is probably impossible to control or measure. The women I've known who took active steps to limit this chemical exposure generally had fewer menopausal symptoms and were less likely to seek HRT. They also had fewer side-effects from HRT when they did choose it.
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• tkjtkj - Dec 14, 2008
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  Based on the women I've known, the risk of getting cancer depends not so much on hormones but on genetic predisposition

  
  
  I seriously question your
  credentials. It is appalling
  that any real scientist or
  physician would make the conclusions
  which you do based on such
  outlandishly inappropriate
  personal observations! You talk
  the words of science yet display
  lack of understanding of its
  methodologies.
  
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• tkjtkj - Dec 14, 2008
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  This seems to be a very good study
  and is most welcome! The bad news
  is that its taken soo many years
  for gov. researchers to do such a
  study! This question was 'on the
  table' in the 1970's !!!!!
  
  Further, one would expect that
  obesity would cause a parallel
  rise in risk, for the same
  hormonal reasons. However, and
  surprisingly, this is true only
  for POST-menapausal women: the
  fact is that obesity (and its
  associated elevations of estrogenic
  hormones) actually seems to
  protect PRE-menapausal women from
  breast cancer. Much more work
  needs to be done! I hope we wont
  have to wait another 40 years to
  sort tHAT out!
  
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• fleem - Dec 14, 2008
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  What's sad is a cursory search of the literature reveals studies showing this decades ago. Check out the late Dr. John Lee. He has some nice links on his site. Also, progesterone cream can help counter the effects of xenoestrogens.
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• E_L_Earnhardt - Dec 14, 2008
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  Incomplete research indicates a TEMPERATURE rise within cells predates "accelerated mitosis". If hormonal chemicals cause this effect in reproductive organs they may well be causative!
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