The possible association of estrogen (E) with or without progestin (P) and breast
cancer has been addressed in many studies for several decades. The recent reported
prospective double-blind Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study suggests that E + P
increases the risk of breast cancer if a woman is an average of 63 years old when
she begins replacement therapy. One third of the patients in this study were 70 to
79 years of age when E + P was begun-obviously several decades past menopausal. Retrospective
and observational studies suggest protection or no increased risk. The WHI-E only
study actually notes a 23% reduction in breast cancer compared with the placebo. It
would appear from a review of the literature that if there is an increased risk for
breast cancer with E or E + P, it is minimal.
Breast cancer - estrogen - progestin - exercise - anthropomorphic factors
