Comment from Professor Henry Burger*

This report provides data on women taking a combination of oral estrogens along with an oral form of testosterone and reporting that this combination produces a very slightly higher risk of breast cancer than does the combination of oral estrogen and progestin.

Findings from the American Women’s Health Initiative

Professor Henry Burger writes to help us understand some of the latest findings from this large study.

Prof Burger is the Chairman of the Research Committee at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health.

From the experts

Prevention is the best cure: that’s the message from national women’s health organisation, the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health.

Experts at the Foundation say that early detection of chronic disease is the key to living longer and stronger. According to Dr Sue Reddish, director of the Jean Hailes Medical Centre for Women, women need to know how to make decisions so that they can take care of their health. “If you’re tired, stressed out, not eating well, drinking too much or you can’t remember when you had your last health-check, you need to take stock,” she said.

More from the Women’s Health Initiative

Oestrogen-alone hormone therapy, used in women who have had a hysterectomy, does not increase breast cancer risk if used for seven years or less, as revealed recently from the Women’s Health Initiative.

Breast cancer not increased

The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health reports on new evidence showing the risk of breast cancer is not increased for women on oestrogen-alone hormone therapy.

The latest news from the American Women’s Health Initiative provides greater clarity on the risks and benefits of hormone therapy. It shows women who have had hysterectomies and who use oestrogen-alone for menopausal symptoms are not at greater risk of breast cancer.