A 33-year-old member asked:
is it true that estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Regina Hamptonanswered
Breast Surgery 23 years experience
HRT-yes: The use of hormone replacement therapy (hrt) for menopause has been shown to increase the risk for breast cancer when used longer than 5 years. Oral contraceptives do not have any relation nor increase in risk of breast cancer.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Sewa Leghaanswered
Medical Oncology 50 years experience
Yes to a degree: Estrogens are normal to have in the female body. But some women can develop breast cancer particularly due to hormone replacement therapy in older years. Most breast cancers are promoted due to Estrogens especailly taking them as suplemnts for more than 5 years.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
CA
A 21-year-old member asked:
Does the estrogen that my physician prescribes increase my chance for breast cancer?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: Studies have shown that prolonged use of estrogen replacement, especially when in combination with progesterone, may increase the risk of breast cancer by as much as 25%. This risk seems to diminish considerably 5-10 years after discontinuing the drug(s).
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Summit, MS
A 44-year-old female asked:
How long would I have to take estrogen before I start worrying bout breast cancer.?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Regina Hamptonanswered
Breast Surgery 23 years experience
5 yrs or less: It has been shown that using hormone replacement therapy (hrt) can increase one's risk of breast cancer when taken for longer than 5 years. Because of this we no longer recommend taking hormones for long periods of time. Work with your gynecologist for options to deal with the symptoms of menopause.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
How do breast cancer anti estrogen pills work?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Richard Orranswered
Surgical Oncology 44 years experience
Starve tumor: Many tumors are fed by estrogen - the main female horomone. Anti-estrogen pills block the effects of estrogen (in a variety of different ways) and thereby starve the tumor from a vital growth factor. Even if you are postmenopausal (or even male) your body still produces estrogen in places like the adrenals and subcutaneous fat.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jun 25, 2014
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