After steady increases for years in the rates of breast cancer, in the year 2003, breast cancer rates dropped a dramatic 7.2 percent. That is more than good news for women. A decline of that proportion in breast cancer rates is great news.

A correlation has been drawn between the decline in breast cancer rates and a decline in the number of women taking hormone pills. After a federal study found a higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease and other health problems for women taking menopause hormones, millions of women stopped taking them.

Some experts are cautious about drawing conclusions about the link between hormone replacement cessation and the sharp decline in breast cancer rates. They cite factors such as advances in imaging technology for causing the steady increases that preceded the decline. Their logic is that more cases were found and diagnosed in the years prior to the decline.

On a personal note, I have opted to never start on a regimen of hormone replacement. I have chosen to use Estrovan, a soy based product, for any menopausal symptoms with satisfactory results.

My reasoning not to start hormone replacement was that it is not natural to take hormones and keep them at a high level throughout our lifetime. Perhaps our feminine bodies knew what was best for us all along with declining hormone levels as we age.

Any factor that can reduce the rates of breast cancer is of great personal significance. Nine years ago, I lost my sister and best friend to breast cancer. She was 48 years old. It is of paramount importance to continue researching any way to reduce the risk of getting this disease and publishing research results. 

This entry was posted on December 21, 2006 at 5:36 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Breast Cancer Prevention Breast Health by Breast News Girl No Comments Yet