Hormone treatment increases breast cancer risk, study shows

Long term use of combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) doubles the risk of breast cancer, according to a major epidemiological study published last week that showed for the first time the higher risk with combined oestrogen and progestogen treatment.

From 1996 to 2001 the million women study recruited 1 084 110 women in the United Kingdom aged 50-64 years. When they were invited to attend for routine mammography the women were asked to complete a questionnaire that included questions about their use of HRT. They were then …