[Hormone replacement therapy following breast carcinoma]

Abstract

Additional advantages of hormone suppletion therapy (HST) in women with climacteric complaints are the reduced risks of development of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. A disadvantage is the enhanced risk of breast cancer. More and more women with a treated primary breast cancer nowadays have a relatively favourable prognosis; they might also profit by HST, especially if chemotherapy for breast cancer has led to an early menopause. Recent pilot studies of the connection between HST and recurrence of breast cancer are inadequate as to methodology and size to permit definite conclusions. There are numerous arguments for a connection between exposure to oestrogens and development of breast cancer. As long as it has not been demonstrated that HST does not lead to enhanced risk of breast cancer recurrence, the general recommendation should be not to administer HST to patients with treated breast carcinoma.