One cause of breast cancer is prolonged endogenous female sex hormone production - early puberty and late menopause. This is supported by epidemiological evidence and clinical trials confirming the therapeutic benefit of anti-oestrogenic therapy in the treatment and prevention of hormone- sensitive (that is, oestrogen-receptor positive) disease. However, breast cancer development is complex. Genetic and lifestyle factors also have important but incompletely understood roles.

The association of HRT with an increased risk of breast cancer is well recognized but has attracted disproportionate attention following recent publications that have in turn resulted in conflicting advice from regulatory authorities. This has reduced health professional and patient confidence in HRT and triggered a dramatic decline in HRT prescribing.


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 Women's Health