Risk of womb cancer depends upon hormone therapy type

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Certain types of hormone replacement therapy increase a woman's risk of womb cancer while others do not, according to a new study.
We already know that certain types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), given to treat menopausal symptoms, can increase a woman's risk of endometrial cancer. In particular, estrogen alone increases the risk.

A team at the University of Oxford, England, now reports on how the use of other forms of HRT on endometrial cancer risk. They looked at over 700,000 post-menopausal women who had not had a hysterectomy. Compared to women who had never used HRT, those using synthetic HRT or estrogen only did have an increased risk of endometrial cancer. But the risk was not increased in those on combined HRT.

The study underlines the dilemma for women who want to use HRT. Combined HRT is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer but it does not increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Since breast cancer is more common than endometrial cancer, it looks as if combined HRT is the most risky. As ever, women and their physicians should balance the benefit versus risk equation when it comes to taking HRT for menopausal symptoms.

Source
The Lancet 30th April 2005

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