Human Hormones

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer

Cancer has caused much heartache and grief over the years, with millions of families being directly or indirectly affected by the condition, which has claimed multitudes in lives.

However, recent evidence suggest that the fight against the condition is slowly being own, with a marked decrease in the number of cancer deaths in the United States. In fact, Nearly 700,000 lives were saved from cancer between the years 1990 and 2005. During that 15 year period, the death rate among men dropped nearly 20%. This is attributed to a general decrease in many different types of cancers. Lung cancer, prostate and colon cancer have all seen reductions in the numbers of deaths linked to them, which has led to the massive reduction in cancer deaths overall. This has of course pleased both physicians and brought hope to many families. In women, there has not been such a huge reduction, but a hopeful one nonetheless, with around 11% being the figure.

This heartening news is actually linked to issues surrounding hormones in women. While prevention and continued advances in treatment are being credited for this good news, hormones and their impact upon the human body also have a part to play.

The decrease in the number of deaths from breast cancer accounted for a 37% drop in the number of female deaths overall in the 15 year period. This shows just how massive the impact of cancer has been on women. This has been attributed in large part to the decrease in the number of women who take on HRT therapy. This therapy has been proven in the past to contribute to an increase in the incidence of breast cancer. This direct link has shown that some aspects of hormone therapy are not as benign as we would like.

However, there are other reasons for a drop in the number of cancer deaths. This reason is all down to the number of delayed diagnoses concerning women who have cancer. This means that any cancers that could have been caught but instead remain under the radar are only caught later on anyway. The figures for the year, of course, are not affected.

Black women face a bigger challenge, with many black women being at a greater risk than their white counterparts. Obesity is still a factor too, with many women and men who are obese facing a much greater risk of a cancer developing.

Whatever the situation, it is obviously clear that reducing the amount of women who take HRT has a definite positive effect on the number of cancer deaths. The US medical authorities have seen this. While there is yet no concrete data for the rest of the world, it is clear that progress is possible.

If you are undergoing HRT, speak with your physician if you have any concerns about the possible development of serious conditions. They will be able to offer you clear guidance on how best to deal with your concerns, as well as concrete medical advice that will guide your decisions.