Understand Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cancer

As we mentioned in other articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle, building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Hysterectomy is always the last resort in treating endometriosis for women who have exhausted all treatments without success, or endometrial tissues have become cancerous her doctor may suggest some kind of hysterectomy. Estrogen replacement therapy may be helpful in reducing symptoms of menopause for women after hysterectomy, it may cause some kind of cancer.

Since we already know that endometriosis is influenced by high levels of estrogen in the first place, women who have endometrial hysterectomy might want to consult with their doctor before taking any estrogen replacement therapy.
1. Estrogen and Progestin combination therapy (EPT)
Women with endometrial hysterectomy may see benefit of lowering the risk of bone loss and recurrent heart attack with intake of EPT in less than five years. Prolonged used of EPT over 5 years will increase the risk of breast cancer but in July, 2002 the EPT researched by Women's Health Institution reported that over five years of studies, women who have taken the EPT had an increase in their risks of heart diseases, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.

2. Estrogen replacement therapy
The studies from Women's Institution report in Feb 2004 concluded that women who have taken ERT saw no increase or decrease of heart disease and breast cancer but at the same time it increases the risk of stroke.

Because of the above risks of hormone therapies, women with endometrial hysterectomy should consider the benefits and risks that is associated with hormone therapy and consult their doctor to check if hormone therapy is right for them. Abruptly stop taking HRT may bring on severe symptoms of menopause.