Breast Cancer after Use of Estrogen plus Progestin in Postmenopausal Women

The Women's Health Initiative trial of estrogen plus progestin, compared with a placebo, in postmenopausal women was stopped in 2002 because the health risks exceeded the benefits of hormone therapy. Within the first year of follow-up after discontinuation of hormonal therapy, the risk of breast cancer declined sharply. The Women's Health Initiative trial of estrogen plus progestin in postmenopausal women was stopped in 2002 because the health risks exceeded the benefits of hormone therapy. Within the first year of follow-up after discontinuation of hormonal therapy, the risk of breast cancer declined sharply. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial of conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate was stopped when health risks were shown to exceed the benefits of combined hormone therapy. 1 The incidence of breast cancer was higher in the hormone-therapy group, and the cancers were larger and more advanced 2 ; in addition, the frequency of abnormalities on mammograms and of breast biopsies was increased in the hormone-therapy group. 3 After the release of our initial WHI report, in 2002, 1 menopausal hormone use decreased considerably in the United States. 4 , 5 Approximately a year later, a substantial drop in the incidence of breast cancer was . . .