Oncoprescribe Blog Another shot at postmenomausal hormone therapy and Breast Cancer

The results of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial which began in 1993, was updated after a 11 year followup. The outcomes from this study should give us pause as we consider postmenopausal hormonal therapy. The conclusions of this study published in JAMA are clear. Estrogen plus Progestin in postmenopausal women not only increases the risk of breast cancer but also results in more advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis. Further there is an increased rate of breast cancer death in this population. Whether short term use of hormonal treatment in postmenopausal individuals to alleviate symptoms is safe, remains unknown and it may be wise not to consider hormonal treatment in these individuals.