Can hormone replacement increase the risk of cancer?

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Hormone replacement increases risk of breast cancer

A frequent question in medical consultations is whether hormone replacement increases the risk of cancer, especially breast tumors.

The answer is affirmative; however, it requires a more detailed explanation: this increase corresponds to an increase of 10% to 20% over the already existing risk. In other words, if a woman has a 10% chance of developing a breast tumor in her lifetime, that risk increases by one or two percentage points. Therefore, this is a relatively low risk for those women who would have a lower chance of developing the disease.

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Furthermore, hormone replacement therapy brings a series of benefits, such as improving vaginal health, skin health, cholesterol profile, heart health and bone health.

However, it is essential to carry out hormone replacement under medical guidance, taking into account the family and individual history of each patient, based on a careful assessment of the patient’s condition and complaints.

I believe this is the most important guidance, so that the patient understands the different types of replacement that exist and which one can provide the most benefits.

It is also worth highlighting that hormone replacement is indicated for women with decreased estrogen production, and not for those with normal production, as in these cases supplementation can raise hormonal levels to extremely high levels, significantly increasing the risk of breast cancer. breast, uterus and others.

Fernando Maluf is co-founder of the Instituto Vencer o Câncer and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Santa Casa de São Paulo.

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