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Safety Alert: Estradiol
Update on the Risk of Breast Cancer with Hormone Replacement Therapy
What does this mean?
Because long-term use of hormone replacement therapy is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and other serious conditions, most doctors prescribe this medication for short periods of time. If you have used hormone replacement therapy for more than 2 years, you may want to talk to your doctor about the benefits of the medicine versus the risk of breast cancer and other risks associated with (or related to) continuing to take this medicine. Your increased risk of breast cancer will decrease once you stop taking hormone replacement therapy.
Two recently published articles better describe the link between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and risk of breast cancer. First, the increased risk of breast cancer occurs within 2 to 3 years of beginning hormone replacement therapy. Second, the risk of getting breast cancer decreases after you stop taking hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone replacement therapy medicines include estrogens (Premarin), estradiol (Estrace, Climara, Vivelle and others), medroxyprogesterone (Provera, Cycrin), combination conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone (Prempro, Premphase), and other progestins (progesterone, hydroxyprogesterone).
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