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WOMEN 'S HEALTH AND MENOPAUSE : - National Heart, Lung ...

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In most studies, HRT has been related to increased<br />

ovarian and decreased colorectal cancer risk, but<br />

these issues await further investigation.<br />

Based on the available evidence, no strong or consistent<br />

relationship is present between HRT and<br />

liver or other gastrointestinal neoplasms, or<br />

melanoma.<br />

9. FUTURE NEEDS<br />

• The breast cancer risk of the combination of<br />

estrogen and progestin should be further quantified:<br />

there are biological reasons to suspect an<br />

unfavorable effect of added progestin on breast<br />

carcinogenesis, and some epidemiological studies<br />

have suggested an excess risk.<br />

• Research is needed to determine whether the<br />

relation between HRT and breast cancer risk<br />

differs at various ages. Any risk-benefit ratio is<br />

particularly critical and must be carefully and<br />

individually assessed for elderly women using<br />

HRT after menopause in terms of relative and<br />

absolute risk.<br />

• In consideration of the better prognosis of<br />

breast cancer in HRT users, future research<br />

should further investigate a potentially favorable<br />

effect of hormone use on the biologic characteristics<br />

of breast tumors.<br />

• Additional studies are needed on HRT use in<br />

women with a diagnosis of breast cancer.<br />

• Although use of estrogen alone increases<br />

endometrial cancer risk, several studies indicate<br />

that combined HRT is not related to a major<br />

excess of endometrial cancer if progestin is<br />

given more than 10 or 14 days in each cycle.<br />

This should be better quantified to provide<br />

information for prescription.<br />

• The evidence on HRT and epithelial ovarian<br />

cancer risk is less consistent than that for<br />

endometrial and breast cancer, though available<br />

data suggest a positive relationship.<br />

• Additional research is needed to confirm a<br />

potentially favorable effect of HRT on colorectal<br />

cancer. In western countries, the number of<br />

deaths from colorectal cancers in women aged<br />

55 or older are similar. Thus, a decrease in incidence<br />

or mortality from colorectal cancer could<br />

greatly affect the balance of risks and benefits<br />

associated with the use of HRT.<br />

• Further data on lung and liver cancer would<br />

also be useful.<br />

• Research is required on the use of tamoxifen<br />

and other SERMs and perhaps more natural<br />

approaches to treating the menopause. Although<br />

there is growing enthusiasm for use of phytoestrogens,<br />

termed by some as “natural” SERMs,<br />

their effects on cancer risk, if any, should be<br />

better understood.<br />

243

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