Estrogen Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk: More from the Women's Health Initiative

Incidence of and mortality from breast cancer were clearly lower than in women who received placebo.

A key finding of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen-Alone postintervention follow-up published in April 2011 (JW Womens Health Apr 5 2011) was persistently lower risk for invasive breast cancer among women with hysterectomies who used oral conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) for a median of 5.9 years. Now, WHI investigators report details about breast cancer incidence and mortality after a median follow-up of 11.8 years.

Compared with placebo, CEE was associated with lower incidence of invasive breast cancer (annual incidence, 0.27% vs. 0.35%; hazard ratio, 0.77; P=0.02). The level of breast cancer protection associated with CEE did not vary by duration of use during the intervention phase or the postintervention phase. Prevention of …

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Estrogen Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk: More from the Women's Health Initiative

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Reviewing Author