The tell-tale signs of breast cancer in women on HRT

14 October 2009

Women who’ve started taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can tell if they’re going to develop breast cancer from a simple change in their body.

Those whose breasts suddenly become tender after starting estrogen plus progestin HRT are far more likely to have breast cancer, a new study has discovered.

Researchers at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) are not sure what the relationship is between breast tenderness and cancer, but think it may be because HRT causes breast tissue cells to multiply more rapidly.

The UCLA researchers made the discovery after analysing the health profile of 8,506 women taking HRT and comparing them with 8,102 women who are not taking the drug.

(Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169: 1684-91).

The tell-tale signs of breast cancer in women on HRT

Related WDDTY Content

Cancer: What are the early tell-tale warning signs?

All women increase breast cancer risk after HRT

Breast Cancer: Rates drop dramatically as women stop taking HRT

Tell tale signs of protein or carbo overload

HRT a bigger cause of breast cancer than experts first thought

Hrt women face greater risk of breast cancer