Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause, even for just a few years, is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing the two most common types of ovarian cancer, according to a detailed re-analysis of all the available evidence, published in The Lancet. The findings from a meta-analysis of 52 epidemiological studies, involving a total of 21488 women with ovarian cancer, almost all from North America, Europe and Australia, indicate that women who use HRT for just a few years are about 40% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who have never taken HRT. "For women who take HRT for 5 years from around age 50, there will be about one extra ovarian cancer for every 1000 users and one extra ovarian cancer death for every 1700 users", explains study co-author Professor Sir Richard Peto from the University of Oxford in the UK. Although HRT use fell rapidly about a decade ago, this decrease has now levelled off and in the UK and USA alone about 6 million women are still taking HRT. Existing WHO, US and European HRT guidelines do not mention ovarian cancer, and UK guidelines (currently being revised) state only that ovarian cancer might … Continue reading →

Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have a significantly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to a major new study. Researchers from the University of Oxford analysed 52 previous studies involving 21,000 women found that even those who took it for less than five years raised the risk level, although it reduces once they had stopped. The researchers estimated one million women in Britain use HRT to relieve symptoms of the menopause, and therefore, the link could affect hundreds of women each year there. The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, has led to calls for medical guidance on HRT to be updated given the causal relationship and the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) said it would look at the findings. The researchers said: The increased risk may well be largely or wholly causal; if it is, women who use hormone therapy for five years from around age 50 have about one extra ovarian cancer per 1,000 users and, if its prognosis is typical, about one extra ovarian cancer death per 1,700 users. The findings that ovarian cancer risk is greatest in current users of hormone therapy, falls after use ceases, and varies by tumour … Continue reading →

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The risk of cancer falls after women stop hormone replacement therapy Hormone replacement therapy significantly increases the risks of women suffering the two most common forms of ovarian cancer if it is taken by over-50s for up to five years, according to a major global study published today. In the analysis of more than 50 studies from North America, Europe and Australia, published in the Lancet, women who use HRT for just a few years are about 40 per cent more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who have never undergone HRT. Current WHO, US and European safety guidelines do not specifically warn about the dangers of ovarian cancer from HRT treatments, which are used by six million people in the UK and US. In Ireland, the Irish Medicines Board has said the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks for menopausal women, but minimum effective dose should be used for the shortest duration. However, the risks are unfavourable as a first-line treatment for osteoporosis, it says. The study carried out by the Collaborative Group on Epidemiological Studies of Ovarian Cancer was organised by the University of Oxford and involved more than 100 researchers who analysed 52 studies. The risks … Continue reading →