By David Liu, PHD

Sunday April 1, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- USA Today reported today that a new study suggested that using any hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms for a long period increased risk of breast cancer. The study was reportedly presented Sunday at a cancer conference in Chicago.

Early studies are confusing.  Some say that taking hormone therapies that combine estrogen and progestins, the most commonly used treatment to ease women's menopausal symptoms, can increase both breast cancer and heart disease.  But some other studies hint that women with their uterus removed may use estrogen alone therapy without having to face elevated risk for breast cancer and even better such a therapy may slightly cut the risk.

But the current study suggests otherwise.  It found that all sorts of hormone therapies when used for a long term increased risk for breast cancer.

The study was based on data from some 60,000 nurses who used a variety of hormones for 10 years showed these women were at slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Study leader Wendy Chen of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston was cited as saying "There's a continued increase in risk with longer durations of use and there does not appear to be a plateau."

The author for the USA Today report claims that "The hormone picture has been confusing, and the absolute risk of breast cancer for any woman taking hormone pills remains small.  Doctors say women should use the lowest dose needed for the shortest time possible."

Consumers should keep in mind that stopping use of hormone therapy can reduce the revenue for the drug and medical industries.  Because of the conflict of interest, any study on hormone therapy should not be taken for its face value, a health observer suggested.