Hormone Therapy and Cancer

“Cancer risk from HRT is small and depends on many
different things. This includes the type of HRT used,
how long someone takes it for, their age, and…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Bowel/Colon/Rectum Cancer
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cervical Cancer/Cancer of the Cervix
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Lung Cancer
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Ovarian Cancer/Cancer of the Ovary
  • Uterine/Womb/Endometrial Cancer

Terminology

What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT),  hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and cancer information?

It can be important to be clear about the type of HT such as estrogen therapy (ET) or estrogen plus progestogen therapy (EPT).

What can it also be important to be clear about with HT, HRT or MHT and cancer information?

It can also be important to be clear about the type of cancer (e.g. breast, ovarian or uterus/womb cancer).

Risk

What is cancer risk from HT?

In Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase the Risk of Cancer? Should I Take HRT? the (United Kingdom) Cancer Research UK elaborate on:

“Cancer risk from HRT is small and depends on many different things. This includes the type of HRT used, how long someone takes it for, their age, and general health. The benefits of taking HRT will be different for each person too. Cancer risk is only part of the decision on whether to take HRT. Your doctor can help you make an informed choice on what is right for you”.2

Who is a GP?

Dots and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Cancer Risk Reduction

How can the risk of cancer be reduced?

In Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase the Risk of Cancer? Should I Take HRT? Cancer Research UK also note:

“Eating a healthy, balanced diet and being active may help with menopause symptoms. This can also help reduce your risk of cancer. Other things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer include:

  • Stopping smoking
  • Keeping a healthy weight
  • Drinking less alcohol”.3

Risks and Benefits

Is HT effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms?

In Risks and Benefits of MHT: Key Points the Australasian Menopause Society elaborate on:

  • “For the majority of symptomatic women, the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) outweigh the risks”.4

Breast Cancer Risk

Can taking HT increase breast cancer risk?

On page three of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Women With Existing Health Conditions the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS note:

“Women with certain medical histories such as breast cancer and blood clots should talk to their healthcare professional about whether MHT is safe for them. Deciding to use MHT is a personal choice and should involve discussions about the benefits and risks with a healthcare professional who know your health history”.5

On page two and three in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

“Current evidence suggests that oestrogen alone HRT is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer than combined HRT. Breast cancer risk is duration dependent and may vary with the type of progestogen used. The risk of breast cancer should be considered in the context of the overall benefits and risks associated with HRT intake”.6

Ovarian Cancer Risk

Can taking HT increase ovarian cancer risk?

On page two in HRT Benefits and Risks, published November 2020, the (British) Women’s Health Concern note:

“Recent evidence from the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors demonstrated that there may be a slight increased risk of some types of ovarian cancer associated with HRT use but this is small and equates to around 1 extra case of ovarian cancer per 1000 HRT users”.7

Cancer of the Uterus

Can taking HT increase cancer of the uterus risk?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks, published July 2022, the NAM explain:

“If you have a uterus and take estrogen with progestogen, there is no increased risk of cancer of the uterus”.8

HT or Not

Who should not use HT?

In Hormone Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions – Who Should Not Use Hormone Therapy? the (United States) Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) note:

“Hormone therapy is not a good choice for every woman. For some, the risks outweigh the benefits, so careful consideration with a healthcare professional is advised. In general, women who have breast cancer, uterine cancer, unexplained uterine bleeding, liver disease, a history of blood clots, and cardiovascular disease should not use hormone therapy”.9

History of Breast Cancer

Can HT be taken by those with a history of breast cancer?

In Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy): Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk , last updated on 07 January 2024, Breastcancer.org elaborate on:

“HRT also can increase your risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence) if you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past. Because of this risk, doctors usually recommend that women with a history of breast cancer should not take types of HRT that affect the entire body (called systemic HRT)”.10

On page three in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

“A history of breast cancer should be considered a contraindication to systemic HRT. The risk of breast cancer recurrence with HRT is higher in women with oestrogen receptor positive cancer, but women with oestrogen receptor negative breast cancer are also considered to have an increased risk of recurrence with HRT. HRT may, in exceptional cases, be offered to women with breast cancer with severe menopausal symptoms if lifestyle modifications and non-hormonal treatment options are not effective. This should be done after discussion with the woman, her menopause specialist and her breast/oncology team”.11

Hormone Therapy Alternatives

What are some HT alternatives?

In Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Review, published 07 March 2023, the authors note:

“For women who are not candidates for hormonal treatments, nonhormonal approaches such as citalopram, desvenlafaxine, escitalopram, gabapentin, paroxetine, and venlafaxine are available and are associated with a reduction in frequency of vasomotor symptoms by approximately 40% to 65%. Low-dose vaginal estrogen is associated with subjective improvement in GSM symptom severity by approximately 60% to 80%, with improvement in severity by 40% to 80% for vaginal prasterone, and with improvement in severity by 30% to 50% for oral ospemifene”.12

Health Care Provider

If I choose to use HT what are my risks of cancer?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use the NAMS explain:



“Every woman is different, and you will decide about whether to use HT based on the severity of your symptoms, your personal and family health history, and your own beliefs about menopause treatments. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you with your decision”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy and Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Cancer?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  3. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  4. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  5. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  6. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  7. Breast Cancer At the Menopause
  8. Breast Cancer Risk Factors
  9. Breastcancer.org
  10. Cancer
  11. Cancer Diagnosis: 11 Tips for Coping
  12. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  14. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  15. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  16. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Premature and Early Menopause
  17. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  18. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase Cancer Risk?
  19. Estrogen Dependent Cancers
  20. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  21. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  22. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  23. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  24. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  25. Gynecological Cancer At the Menopause
  26. HRT
  27. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  28. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Common Questions About Vaginal Oestrogen
  32. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  33. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  34. How To Prevent Cancer: 6 Ways To Lower Your Risk
  35. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  36. Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Review
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  38. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  39. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  40. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  41. Menopause
  42. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – Breast Cancer & MHT
  43. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – What Are the Benefits of MHT
  44. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – What Are the Risks of MHT?
  45. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  46. Menopause Mindfulness: Understanding the Many Paths To Menopause
  47. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  48. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  49. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  50. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  51. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  52. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  53. Menopause Treatment
  54. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  55. Menopause and HRT
  56. Menopause: Identification and Management NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
  57. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  58. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  59. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches: What You Need To Know
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  65. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  66. Natural Therapies
  67. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  68. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  69. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  70. Office of Dietary Supplements: Black Cohosh
  71. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  72. Optimising Health After Early Menopause
  73. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  74. Stopping Hormone Replacement Therapy: “Cold Turkey” Menopause
  75. Summary of BMS Response To NICE Menopause Guidance
  76. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  77. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  78. The Lancet: Series From the Lancet Journal – Menopause 2024
  79. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Hormone Therapy and Cancer
  80. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  81. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer: Findings In Context
  82. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  83. Types of Hormone Therapy
  84. Ultra-Low Dose Menopausal Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  85. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary [08 November 2024]
  86. Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
  87. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  88. Vaginal Dryness
  89. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  90. Vaginal Oestrogen Is A Treatment on the Rise, But Is It Safe?
  91. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  92. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies [18 October 2024]
  93. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – How Do I Deal With the Menopause After A Diagnosis of Gynaecological Cancer
  95. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – The Women’s Health Initiative – What Can We Believe?
  96. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  97. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: IMS White Paper: Menopause and MHT In 2024: Addressing the Key Controversies [Multiply Languages]
  99. Hormone Therapy and Cancer World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  100. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase the Risk of Cancer? Should I Take HRT? Last Reviewed: 22 March 2023. Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/hormones-and-cancer/does-hormone-replacement-therapy-increase-cancer-risk#breast Accessed: 22 November 2024
  2. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase the Risk of Cancer? Should I Take HRT? Last Reviewed: 22 March 2023. Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/hormones-and-cancer/does-hormone-replacement-therapy-increase-cancer-risk#breast Accessed: 22 November 2024
  3. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase the Risk of Cancer? Should I Take HRT? Last Reviewed: 22 March 2023. Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/hormones-and-cancer/does-hormone-replacement-therapy-increase-cancer-risk#breast Accessed: 22 November 2024
  4. Risks and Benefits of MHT: Key Points. Content Updated January 2021. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/799-risks-and-benefits-of-mht-hrt Accessed: 22 November 2024
  5. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Women With Existing Health Conditions. 2024:3. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 22 November 2024
  6. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:2-3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 22 November 2024
  7. HRT Benefits and Risks. Updated: November 2020:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/ Accessed: 22 November 2024
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. July 2022: 1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 22 November 2024
  9. Hormone Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions – Who Should Not Use Hormone Therapy? Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 22 November 2024
  10. Using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy): Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk . Last Updated: 07 January 2024. Breastcancer.org https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors/using-hormone-replacement-therapy Accessed: 22 November 2024
  11. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:2-3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 22 November 2024
  12. Crandall, C. J., Mehta, J. M., Manson, J. E. Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Review. 07 March 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36749328/ Accessed: 22 November 2024
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. July 2022: 1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 22 November 2024
Topic Last Updated: 22 November 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 November 2024

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