| Generally speaking, a great deal has already been | | | | physician's surveillance, they are more likely to get |
| discussed on the issue of hormone replacement | | | | annual screenings. Although there is no difference |
| therapy. However, less is known specifically about | | | | between women who are not on hormone |
| this form of therapy for breast cancer survivors. One | | | | replacement and those who are on it for less than |
| reason for this is that physicians are concerned about | | | | ten years, once the duration exceeds the ten-year |
| prescribing any of these drugs to their patients for | | | | benchmark, there is a slight increase in breast cancer |
| fear that it might increase the risk of cancer | | | | incidence, but the numbers are insignificant. There |
| recurrence. But along with this, blanket statements | | | | also appears to be anecdotal data that women with |
| regarding hormone replacement therapy are quite | | | | breast lobular neoplasm may have an increased risk |
| inappropriate. Each individual woman should be given | | | | for recurrence with hormone replacement therapy. |
| the chance to consider the risks and benefits of | | | | However, with or without this form of therapy, |
| hormone replacement based on their personal | | | | these women are still at an increased risk of |
| situation. Every woman experiences menopause | | | | recurrence. |
| differently, with varying degrees of symptoms. Some | | | | On the other end of the spectrum, how does one |
| women go through menopause with little difficulty | | | | know that one is cured of breast cancer? |
| and without increased risk of osteoporosis or heart | | | | Unfortunately, there is no absolute way to know. |
| disease. For others, menopause is traumatic and can | | | | Statistical probabilities can be given based on the |
| introduce increased chances of illness into their lives. | | | | cancer's characteristics. If one is destined to relapse, |
| Professional practice in medicine has endorsed | | | | it will usually happen in the first five years after the |
| allowing women to replace ovarian hormones with | | | | diagnosis. Regrettably, late recurrences do rarely |
| hormone replacement therapy once the ovaries begin | | | | occur. Breast cancer patients are advised that once |
| to fail. Evidence and clinical experiences indicate that | | | | treatment is complete, they should consider |
| the benefits clearly outweigh the risk and expense of | | | | themselves cured, move on. |
| such therapy. However, evidence has yet to be | | | | Medical research shows that low dose hormone |
| found with regards to the risks to women surviving | | | | replacement therapy for less than 10 years does not |
| beast cancer. Most concerns are based on | | | | significantly contribute to the development of breast |
| speculation and anecdotal experience alone. | | | | cancer in the general population, but the question is, |
| For most women, the question lies in the correlation | | | | does this apply to the population of women cured of |
| between hormone replacement therapy and an | | | | breast cancer? Sadly, there are no studies to confirm |
| increased risk of breast cancer. Does hormone | | | | this and no evidence has yet surfaced from past |
| therapy contribute to breast cancer? Before starting | | | | studies to answer this. The safest way to think |
| such treatment, physicians often require their | | | | about it though, is that for women with a high |
| patients to get a baseline screening mammogram and | | | | probability of cure, the benefits of this treatment far |
| because women receiving treatment are under a | | | | outweigh the risks. |