WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for January, 2000: Re: estrogen/progestin and breast cancer

Re: estrogen/progestin and breast cancer

From: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 30 Jan 2000 13:18:32 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D.: "Re: Question- pain sensitivity of the body"
Previous message: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D.: "Re: Endo polyp and four ovarian cyst"
In reply to: DF: "estrogen/progestin and breast cancer"

At Sat, 29 Jan 2000, DF wrote: >
>Hi, Please excuse me if this question has already been asked in the last
>few days, (I went back to look and didn't see it on archives) but what
>is your opinion on the recent media publication of progestin/estrogen
>combination increasing chances of breast cancer?

Well, after the millionth phone call in the office.. whew! These numbers are just about what most of us have been quoting. One study showed a lower risk of cancer (I personally don't believe it), several showed no difference and several showed a 5-10% increase, which is about what this study showed. The bigger question is "What does this mean in the scheme of things?" Well, 30-50% of women die from heart diease and HRT reduces death from heart disease by 50%. HRT is also associated with a 30-54% redcution in Alzheimer's, a reduction in osteoporosis, a 70% reduction in macular degeneration (the leading causeof vision loss in the aged), a reduction in colon cancer and the list goes on but those (in my estimation) are the biggies. If one were to increase the risk of breast cancer by 10% (and I am by no means minimizing the severity of such a dreadful disease) and 3% of women die from breast cancer (yes, 11% get it and 3% die from it - therefore, most women who get breast cancer do not die from it), it may be assumed (I have no exptrapolated data) that the % of women who die from breast cancer may go from 3% to 3.3% while still reducing heart disease from 30% to 15% and so on. BTW, more women die from hip fractures associated with osteoporosis tha n die from breast cancer.

In addition, studies have also shown that women diagnosed with breast cancer while on HRT have a less aggressive tumor (on average) and have a longer life expectancy than women not on HRT.

>My true concern is
>whether or not natural progesterone/not progestin will have the same
>effect on breast tissue.

This is my personal feeeling that natural progesterone will act differently (as proven in heart disease already) but this has not been published yet.

>Isn't natural progesterone much different from
>the synthetic progestins?

Absolutely.

>Do you know if anyone is studying this right
>now? New info always gets me asking questions! Thanks
>
>--
>df
>

Gotta rest. Typers cramp!!!!!!!

--
Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
Great Neck, New York

**Note:  Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
and/or interventions.

**Private emails cannot be entertained due to time constraints,
consequently no private emails will receive a response.

**Thank you for your understanding ;-)

Next message: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D.: "Re: Question- pain sensitivity of the body"
Previous message: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D.: "Re: Endo polyp and four ovarian cyst"
In reply to: DF: "estrogen/progestin and breast cancer"

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: