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Biotech / Medical : Ligand (LGND) Breakout! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: squetch who wrote (11644)	11/24/1997 2:55:00 PM
From: Andrew H	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32384

>>I read in a Hormone Replacement Therapy pamphlet(don't ask) that estrogen doesn't appear to increase the risk of breast cancer.<< Having hormone troubles, squetch? (:>) I thought that estrogen did increase the risk of breast cancer, also. But I also thought it was long term use. An additional 3/10,000 works out to .000003%. Not much of a consideration IMO.

To: squetch who wrote (11644)	11/24/1997 7:27:00 PM
From: Abuckatatime	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32384

squetch,>>I thought there was an increased risk.<< You are right, there is. A recent Lancet article (vol.350:Oct11,1997)describes the results of a large meta-analysis in which investigators reanalyzed data from over 50 epidemiological studies conducted over the last 25 years. They found an increased risk of breast cancer in current or recent users of HRT for more than five years and the risk was related to duration of use, increasing by a factor of 1.023 for each year of use. This translates to 12 extra cases of breast cancer by age 70 for every 1000 women who start taking HRT at age 50 and continue it for 20 years. Results of randomized prospective controlled trials won't be available to answer some of the questions regarding the epidemiological findings for a few more years. In the US a large trial involving 275,000 women taking HRT is ongoing and should be concluded by 2007. The epidemiological data will have to do for a while, and they point to an increased risk with HRT. There are clear benefits to HRT, ie reduction in overall and cardiovascular mortality, fewer fractures, less colon cancer, and perhaps protection against neurlogic decline. These have to be weighed by patient and clinician against the risks, on a case by case basis.