Which hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer?

Which hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer?

• A. Combined estrogen-progestin therapy
• B. Testosterone therapy
• C. Progesterone alone
• D. No hormone therapy increases risk

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that breast cancer risk with menopausal hormone therapy depends on the type of hormones used. When estrogen is combined with a progestin, the risk of breast cancer increases with longer use. This regimen stimulates breast tissue more broadly because estrogen promotes growth of breast cells and progestin adds further proliferation, so the cumulative exposure raises cancer risk compared with not using hormones or using estrogen alone. Large studies show the risk climbs with duration of therapy and tends to lessen after stopping. Estrogen therapy alone (used in women who have had a hysterectomy) does not carry the same increased risk and may even have neutral or slightly favorable effects on breast cancer risk in some analyses. Testosterone therapy and progesterone alone have not shown a clear, consistent increase in breast cancer risk in the typical menopausal regimens. Therefore, the combination of estrogen with progestin is the approach most consistently linked to an elevated risk of breast cancer.

The main idea here is that breast cancer risk with menopausal hormone therapy depends on the type of hormones used. When estrogen is combined with a progestin, the risk of breast cancer increases with longer use. This regimen stimulates breast tissue more broadly because estrogen promotes growth of breast cells and progestin adds further proliferation, so the cumulative exposure raises cancer risk compared with not using hormones or using estrogen alone. Large studies show the risk climbs with duration of therapy and tends to lessen after stopping.

Estrogen therapy alone (used in women who have had a hysterectomy) does not carry the same increased risk and may even have neutral or slightly favorable effects on breast cancer risk in some analyses. Testosterone therapy and progesterone alone have not shown a clear, consistent increase in breast cancer risk in the typical menopausal regimens. Therefore, the combination of estrogen with progestin is the approach most consistently linked to an elevated risk of breast cancer.