Hormone use linked to cancer risks

[mzmolly]

Source: Associated Press

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer 1 hour, 1 minute ago

The first follow-up of a landmark study of hormone use after menopause shows heart problems linked with the pills seem to fade after women stop taking them, while surprising new cancer risks appear.

That heart trouble associated with hormones may not be permanent is good news for millions of women who quit taking them after the government study was halted six years ago because of heart risks and breast cancer.

But the new risks for other cancers, particularly lung tumors, in women who'd taken estrogen-progestin pills for about five years puzzled the researchers and outside experts.

Those risks "were completely unanticipated," said Dr. Gerardo Heiss of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, lead author of the follow-up analysis. More at link - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/ap_on_he_me/hormone_risks">AP

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/ap_on_he_me/hormone_risks

[Danieljay]

1. Its the synthetic progestins.... this is leftover from the WHI study of Prempro.. the premarin only

wing didn't appear to have an increased risk. That being said, oral estrogen, absorbed through the liver, of any form tend to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Bioidentical estrogens, creams, patches absorbed through the skin dont seem to have the same risk at all.

That being said, if you are on a synthetic progestin IUD ya might want to think of another option.

[Donnachaidh]

2. Read The Secret History the War on Cancer by Dr. Devra Davis

And you'll see that this *NEW* finding has been known for DECADES, but kept quiet by Big Pharma, with aid from the various cancer societies, etc.

That book is astounding, and is guaranteed to piss more than a few people off. Her website is here:

http://www.devradavis.com/

There is BIG money in cancer research - but none if cancer is cured. :grr:

[mzmolly]

3. Sounds like an interesting book thanks

for the info.

[Th1onein]

4. The problem is not the progestin, although progestin doesn't help

It's not progesterone. And progestin it doesn't help replace it, when the ovaries stop making progesterone. It's the ESTROGEN that's causing the increased cancers. You cannot be estrogen dominant and not get cancer. It's very simple. Why in the world doctors would give postmenopausal women, who have NOT stopped producing estrogen (which comes from fat cells, as well as the female reproductive system), but have stopped producing PROGESTERONE, I don't know. It's an idiocy I can't explain.

[mzmolly]

5. That's what I thought as well. Lung cancer surprised me though.

I know that excess estrogen can lead to tumors, period so I shouldn't be surprised.