HRT Cancer Link Research Evidence

The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) controversy has been raging for over a decade now. But, finally, new research has made the HRT cancer link clear.

Two recent hormone replacement therapy studies, specifically on the HRT cancer link, both report what scientists have suspected for a while - there's a definite connection between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer.

The U.S. has the highest rate of breast cancer in the world. It affects 1 out of every 8 American women in their lifetime and, next to skin cancer, it's the most common cancer for women. Breast cancer is also the second most deadly, after lung cancer.

The HRT Cancer Link Research

In each of the studies, the cancer research teams found that as more and more women became aware of the HRT cancer link, more and more women gave up using hormone replacement therapy in favor of alternative treatments for menopause symptoms.

And, as women gave up HRT, breast cancer rates started dropping.

In 2003, breast cancer statistics went down by about 10%. Researchers were surprised, since they had never seen such a dramatic drop in just one year. And the rates are still going down - particularly for women over 50, who appear to be more sensitive to HRT.

Dr. Peter Ravdin of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, reporting to the 29th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, said he's convinced the big drop in breast cancer is related to the big decrease in HRT use as a menopause treatment.

The author of the second study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Christina Clarke of the Northern California Cancer Center in Fremont, agrees.

"Hormone therapy use dropped by 68% between 2001 and 2003, and shortly thereafter we saw breast cancer rates drop by 10% to 11%. This drop was sustained in 2004, which tells us that the decline wasn't a fluke."

Natural Help with Menopause Symptoms

What are your options for treating menopause symptoms naturally?

The best thing you can do is to make the same lifestyle changes necessary to maximize your health and minimize your risk of breast cancer.

That means, eat the healthiest diet possible and exercise regularly. Healthy women simply have far fewer disturbing menopause symptoms.

You can begin with a nutritious diet rich in:

o Colorful fruits and vegetables,

o 100% whole grains,

o Lean poultry and low fat dairy,

o And cold water fish, such as salmon.

Eliminate processed trans fats, high fat dairy, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, carbonated sodas and other high glycemic carbohydrates, such as refined flour. And definitely get out for a half-hour walk at least three to five days a week - preferably daily.

If you really want to increase your odds of having a pleasant, easy menopause, you should also get started as soon as possible on a high quality food supplement program.

Besides the necessary vitamin and mineral requirements, make sure you include good quality essential fatty acids, particularly omega 3 fish oil with EPA and DHA.

How Omega 3 Fish Oil Can Help

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for the production, release and balance of hormones. High quality, balanced omega 3 fish oil capsules can help to reduce hot flashes and eliminate mood swings by balancing the production of hormones.

And, besides greatly reducing menopause symptoms, fish oil has been shown to dramatically reduce the incidence of breast cancer.