By: Agence France-Presse October 10, 2012 7:03 AM OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES STORIES InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 PARIS - Women who start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) soon after menopause do not show higher cancer incidence within 16 years, according to a Danish study published on Tuesday that fuels scientific discord over the treatment's safety. Indeed, women who took HRT in the investigation had a significantly lower risk of dying or developing heart problems, the researchers wrote in a paper published on the medical websitebmj.com. The new study was hailed by a menopause awareness group but a researcher who led a wider probe into HRT said it was worryingly underpowered. HRT has been shrouded in controversy since a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002 reported a higher risk of breast cancer for women who take it, a finding echoed by the Million Women Study (MWS) a year later. "We found a significantly decreased risk of... death, heart failure or myocardial infarction (heart attack) when hormone replacement therapy was started early in postmenopause," wrote the Danish team. "(T)his finding was not associated with an increased risk of cancer, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism." The MWS stirred up … Continue reading →

By Jenny Hope PUBLISHED: 17:32 EST, 9 October 2012 | UPDATED: 18:32 EST, 9 October 2012 Taking HRT is safe and can protect against heart disease without increasing cancer risks, a milestone study claims. It found women who take hormone replacement therapy at the start of the menopause for 10 years can reduce their risk of heart failure, heart attacks and premature death. Most importantly, the study found there was no extra risk of cancer, strokes or blood clots even 16 years after starting HRT. HRT use dropped dramatically in 2002 when a study found women who took it were at a higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. A new review has called that research 'unreliable and defective' Using HRT halved the risk of heart disease and strokes, and cut the death rate by 43 per cent during the study period. Experts hailed the findings as finally demonstrating that HRT has long-term health benefits after a decade-long controversy over its safety. British doctors are calling for rules on HRT prescribing to be re-written, allowing a new generation of women to get bone protection and relief from menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and mood changes. Read the … Continue reading →

Women who start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) soon after menopause do not show higher cancer incidence within 16 years, according to a Danish study published on Tuesday that fuels scientific discord over the treatment's safety. Indeed, women who took HRT in the investigation had a significantly lower risk of dying or developing heart problems, the researchers wrote in a paper published on the medical website bmj.com. The new study was hailed by a menopause awareness group but a researcher who led a wider probe into HRT said it was worryingly underpowered. HRT has been shrouded in controversy since a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002 reported a higher risk of breast cancer for women who take it, a finding echoed by the Million Women Study (MWS) a year later. "We found a significantly decreased risk of... death, heart failure or myocardial infarction (heart attack) when hormone replacement therapy was started early in postmenopause," wrote the Danish team. "(...) (T)his finding was not associated with an increased risk of cancer, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism." The MWS stirred up a storm when it claimed HRT boosted cancer risk by between 30 and 100 percent, a finding criticised by … Continue reading →

By Jennifer KrausConsumer Investigator NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The state Attorney General said he's prepared to contact every patient in Tennessee who got hormone replacement therapy from Nashville-based HRC Medical. This comes as the Attorney General has gone to court to shut down the entire company and after NewsChannel 5 Investigates first exposed problems with HRC's hormone therapy nearly a year ago. The Attorney General is so concerned that he wants every patient who went to the HRC clinic here in Nashville and those in Memphis and Knoxville to talk with their primary care physicians about the possible long term health problems they could face including endometrial cancer and breast cancer. Read the lawsuit filed against HRC Medical Former HRC patient Susan Moerschel told NewsChannel 5 Investigates, "It's frightening." Moerschel, who underwent hormone replacement therapy at HRC for a year, was stunned to hear now that the state attorney general has gone to court to shut down HRC Medical in order to "protect consumers." The 160-page complaint filed Monday accuses HRC and its owners of running the company in a "persistently fraudulent manner" and repeatedly making "false and misleading statements" about its heavily promoted hormone replacement therapy. The complaint also confirmed what … Continue reading →

9 October 2012 Last updated at 19:44 ET Women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may cut their risk of heart problems, a study suggests, but experts are still cautious about long-term safety risks. Published in the journal BMJ, the study also found HRT is not associated with an increased risk of cancer or stroke - but past studies have shown a link. The Department of Health advises women to only use it on a short-term basis. The researchers traced 1,000 women over 10 years - half of them were on HRT. Talking about their findings, the paper's authors said: "HRT had significantly reduced risk of mortality, heart failure, or heart attack, without any apparent increase of cancer, deep vein thrombosis or stroke." However, they stressed that "due to the potential time lag, longer time may be necessary to take more definite conclusions". Safety concerns about the long-term use of the therapy has been debated by academics over the past decade. The women in the study were aged between 45-58 years old and recently menopausal - those on treatment started it soon after menopausal symptoms began. HRT replaces female hormones that are no longer produced during the menopause and can … Continue reading →