The link between estrogen and breast cancer is that estrogen is thought to be a cancer initiator or promoter of gynecological cancers, including breast cancer. In addition, the estrogen and breast cancer correlation has been known for years, which has caused many women to discontinue or refuse hormone replacement therapy. Frequently, hormone replacement therapy is given to women to ease the effects of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. In addition, hormone replacement therapy is thought to reduce mood swings, prevent osteoporosis and contribute to a healthy heart.
In women who have a family or personal history of gynecological cancers such as cancer of the uterus or breast, alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms are recommended. Estrogen levels can fluctuate wildly when receiving hormone therapy, which can be a risk factor in getting cancer. Other things that can affect estrogen levels include consuming soy products and being obese.
As menopause approaches, estrogen levels fluctuate, and then fall. This causes classic menopausal symptoms, which often prompt women to seek relief from their physicians. Many doctors, however, encourage women to seek alternative remedies to alleviate their symptoms, especially when symptoms are mild.
Since the link between estrogen and breast cancer is so strong, unless hot flashes and night sweats are debilitating and unresponsive to other treatment methods, the use of hormone replacement therapy should be discouraged. This is especially important for women who have a family history of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer or women who have had the disease. This type of breast cancer makes women more susceptible to the effects of estrogen, as opposed to estrogen receptor negative types of breast cancer. Alternative methods of menopausal symptom relief include herbal remedies and fluid replenishment.
The correlation between estrogen and breast cancer is especially important for women who desire to take hormones for extended periods of time. When taken for only a short duration, the risks are generally negligible. The risk of breast cancer becomes more important the longer the woman continues to receive hormone replacement therapy. Taking estrogen alone, in the absence of progesterone, can dramatically increase a woman's risk for endometrial or uterine cancer. Combining progesterone with the estrogen, however, can reduce the risk significantly.
Physicians need to counsel their patients regarding alternative treatment methods for menopausal symptoms, and explain the risk and links between estrogen and breast cancer. In addition, reassuring women that menopausal symptoms are only temporary can often encourage them to use alternative, safer methods of treatment. When women decide that hormone replacement therapy is right for them, the physician needs to provide follow-up care and offer screening tests such as mammograms, pelvic examinations, and pap smears.