HRT More Problems
During the past few months there have been several studies indicating the link between HRT and an increase in the development of cancers. This current study showed that this form of HRT may cause an aggressive form of breast cancer. To make matters worse the tumors that developed were more difficult to find until they reached a latter more incurable stage. This was a large study consisting of over 16,000 women between the ages of 50 to 79. During the study nearly 300 women developed this form of breast cancer. These results come on the heals of last summers stunning revelation that a major study designed to measure the safety of HRT was halted during the study because the incidence of breast cancer was so high.
Hormone users in this latest study were found to have larger tumors with more area of spreading throughout the breast tissue. Overall women studied on both studies faced a 24% increase risk of breast cancer. These findings were published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association. A second smaller study also published today in JAMA confirmed the link between HRT and breast cancer. This study involved 975 Seattle area women between the ages of 65 to 79.
All this to treat night sweats. By the way past HRT studies clearly showed that HRT was only successful in treating night sweat and hot flashes. HRT has no benefit to the heart, does not increase bone mass, and can not prevent Alzheimer Disease. While I am certainly not discounting the unpleasant effects of hot flashes there are other much safer ways to help alleviate the very unpleasant effects of hot flashes.. The most common approach is to use herbs like Black Cohosh, Red Clover, Don Quai, and Wild Yam. In my office these herbs have been very effective in successfully treating hot flashes. If you have any question about alternative HRT please feel free to e-mail me at steve.felder@verizon.net.
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by Dr. Steven Felder
