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.
This is another paper1 from the very well known Nurses Health Study in the USA, which is a very large observational study on various aspects of hormone therapy.
The figures are based on a relatively small number of breast cancers.
The results can not be generalised to the Australian context where the American preparation of testosterone is not available and not used and may act slightly differently.
The work is important as it highlights the need for further research in the area. It does not provide any definitive answers but does ask questions that need to be addressed.
Therefore, study results should be taken into account when discussing the use of testosterone but should not be a major deterrent to its use.
Reference
1. Rulla M. Tamimi; Susan E. Hankinson; Wendy Y. Chen; Bernard Rosner; Graham A. Colditz, Combined Estrogen and Testosterone Use and Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women, Arch Intern Med. 2006; 166:1483-1489.
What is the Nurses Health Study?
The Nurses' Health Study, established in 1976 by Dr. Frank Speizer, and the Nurses' Health Study II, established in 1989 by Dr. Walter Willett, are among the largest prospective investigations into the risk factors for major chronic diseases in women. The studies have grown to include a team of clinicians, epidemiologists, and statisticians at the Channing Laboratory along with collaborating investigators and consultants in the surrounding medical community of the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Professor Henry Burger AO, MD, FRACP, FCP, FRCP(London), FRCOG, FRANZCOG, FAA
Founding Board Member, The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health;
Chairman, Research Committee, The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health;
Emeritus Director, Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research ;
Past President, International Menopause Society;
Past President, Australasian Menopause Society
Content updated July 26, 2006 |
