How strong is the link between hrt and breast cancer? maternal grandma is bc survivor and was diagnosis after being on hrt for many years.

Strong: There is a direct link. We still use hrt and it is also related to the duration of use. Hope this helps. Here is a link to a synopsis of a study published in the lancet. http://www.millionwomenstudy.org/publications/27/breast-cancer-and-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-the-million-women-study/.

Strong!: The current recommendation is to use hrt for less than 5 years. It has been proven to increase the risk for breast cancer with use beyond 5 years. The reality is the risk for developing breast cancer increases as we get older, even without hrt use.

Increased risk: Using combined hormone therapy after menopause increases the risk of getting breast cancer. It may also increase the chances of dying from breast cancer. This increase in risk can be seen with as little as 2 years of use. Combined ht also increases the likelihood that the cancer may be found at a more advanced stage.