HRT and Breast Cancer: What’s the Real Risk?
If you’re considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT), chances are you’ve heard it “causes breast cancer.” But the real story is more nuanced — and less scary — than the headlines suggest.
🔍 Where the Fear Began
The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) in the early 2000s reported a 26% increase in breast cancer risk with combined HRT (estrogen + synthetic progestin). That sounds alarming — until you look closer:
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The absolute increase was just 8 extra cases per 10,000 women per year
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The women were older (average age 63)
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The hormones used were synthetic, not bioidentical
🌿 Type of Hormone Matters
Estrogen alone (for women without a uterus):
✅ May reduce breast cancer risk (↓23% in WHI)
Estrogen + synthetic progestin (like Provera):
⚠️ Slight increase in breast cancer risk after 5+ years
Estrogen + bioidentical progesterone (like Prometrium):
✅ No significant increase in breast cancer risk in several studies
📊 Quick Risk Comparison (Over 5 Years)
| HRT Type | Relative Risk | Extra Cases (per 1,000 women) |
|---|---|---|
| Estrogen alone | ↓23% | –3.5 cases |
| Estrogen + synthetic progestin | ↑26% | +4 cases |
| Estrogen + bioidentical progesterone | No significant change | 0 |
Sources: WHI, Fournier 2008, The Lancet 2019, Vinogradova 2020, NAMS 2022
✅ So, Is HRT Safe?
For most healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, yes — especially when using bioidentical hormones. HRT can:
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💤 Improve sleep
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💪 Protect bones
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🧠 Sharpen focus
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❤️ Support heart and brain health
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🔥 Stop the hot flashes
🩺 What I Offer
At Summit Hormone, I offer:
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Personalized HRT consults via telehealth in Colorado
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Bioidentical hormone options
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Care rooted in science, not fear
📲 Book at summithormone.com
📝 Explore more on the blog