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| HRT 'increases ovarian cancer risk' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of ovarian cancer, analysis of 52 separate studies has found. | |
| The University of Oxford research, in the Lancet, found an extra case for every 1,000 women taking the drugs for five years from the age of 50. | |
| Lead researcher Sir Richard Peto said claims there was no risk for short courses of HRT "simply isn't true". | Lead researcher Sir Richard Peto said claims there was no risk for short courses of HRT "simply isn't true". |
| A leading cancer charity said this was a "modest increase on a relatively uncommon cancer." | A leading cancer charity said this was a "modest increase on a relatively uncommon cancer." |
| Medical charities said the findings were robust, but said the risk did fall after HRT stopped. | Medical charities said the findings were robust, but said the risk did fall after HRT stopped. |
| HRT drugs are used to alleviate the symptoms of the menopause, which can be so severe they interfere with day-to-day life. | HRT drugs are used to alleviate the symptoms of the menopause, which can be so severe they interfere with day-to-day life. |
| In the UK, women take HRT mostly for between two and five years. | In the UK, women take HRT mostly for between two and five years. |
| There is an increased risk of breast cancer, which has been well documented. However, the drugs have also been found to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and bowel cancers. | |
| But the impact on ovarian cancer has been debated, particularly for those taking the drug for less than five years. | But the impact on ovarian cancer has been debated, particularly for those taking the drug for less than five years. |
| Scientists behind the latest study, which looked at data from 52 separate studies including 21,500 women with ovarian cancer, say it proves there is a link. | |
| Prof Sir Richard Peto told the BBC News website: "It's a risk, about a million women in this country have HRT and 1,000 will get ovarian cancer from it." | Prof Sir Richard Peto told the BBC News website: "It's a risk, about a million women in this country have HRT and 1,000 will get ovarian cancer from it." |
| He specified there would be one extra death for every 1,700 people taking hormone replacement therapy. | He specified there would be one extra death for every 1,700 people taking hormone replacement therapy. |
| He said the risks would be reduced for those taking it for a shorter period of time but were still there. | He said the risks would be reduced for those taking it for a shorter period of time but were still there. |
| He added: "If it were me and I had really bad symptoms, I'd worry more about those than any possible risk." | He added: "If it were me and I had really bad symptoms, I'd worry more about those than any possible risk." |
| Theresa Chaffey, from Bournemouth, told the BBC News website: "I wasn't actually given any information in regards to any breast cancer risk or ovarian cancer risk. | Theresa Chaffey, from Bournemouth, told the BBC News website: "I wasn't actually given any information in regards to any breast cancer risk or ovarian cancer risk. |
| "Hearing the news today is very worrying because of actually being on HRT for so long and with GPs continually saying I need to stay on it for my bones as well as any symptoms." | "Hearing the news today is very worrying because of actually being on HRT for so long and with GPs continually saying I need to stay on it for my bones as well as any symptoms." |
| 'Unbearable' without HRT | 'Unbearable' without HRT |
| But Val Wheedon from Chatham in Kent commented: "I have been taking HRT in one form or another since 1997 when I had a full hysterectomy. | But Val Wheedon from Chatham in Kent commented: "I have been taking HRT in one form or another since 1997 when I had a full hysterectomy. |
| "My life would be unbearable if I don't have HRT and for a number of other women who suffer severe menopausal symptoms it is the same. We have to weigh up the quality of life alongside the risks, and therefore HRT is a risk we'd rather take than have no life." | "My life would be unbearable if I don't have HRT and for a number of other women who suffer severe menopausal symptoms it is the same. We have to weigh up the quality of life alongside the risks, and therefore HRT is a risk we'd rather take than have no life." |
| Symptoms | Symptoms |
| Ovarian cancer is often difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are similar to irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions. | Ovarian cancer is often difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are similar to irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions. |
| The main symptoms include: | The main symptoms include: |
| Source: NHS Choices | Source: NHS Choices |
| Commenting on the findings, Prof Montserrat Garcia-Closas, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, told the BBC: "There's been a question for a long time about how solid the evidence was and this paper shows really very convincingly that there is an association." | Commenting on the findings, Prof Montserrat Garcia-Closas, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, told the BBC: "There's been a question for a long time about how solid the evidence was and this paper shows really very convincingly that there is an association." |
| But she cautioned: "It's a modest increase on a relatively uncommon cancer. | But she cautioned: "It's a modest increase on a relatively uncommon cancer. |
| "For the general impact on a woman of average risk, then breast cancer will be a more important consideration than ovarian cancer." | "For the general impact on a woman of average risk, then breast cancer will be a more important consideration than ovarian cancer." |
| Katherine Taylor, from the charity Ovarian Cancer Action, said: "Every woman is different though, and may each have different risk factors." | Katherine Taylor, from the charity Ovarian Cancer Action, said: "Every woman is different though, and may each have different risk factors." |
| She said some women would be at increased risk because of their family history and the inheritance of some cancer risk genes, such as BRCA. | She said some women would be at increased risk because of their family history and the inheritance of some cancer risk genes, such as BRCA. |
| "Knowing her BRCA status could affect a woman's decisions around her health care. It could help her to decide whether HRT is the right path, for example." | "Knowing her BRCA status could affect a woman's decisions around her health care. It could help her to decide whether HRT is the right path, for example." |
| The UK's medicine's regulator said it advised using the lowest does for the shortest possible time. | The UK's medicine's regulator said it advised using the lowest does for the shortest possible time. |
| Do you take HRT or are thinking about taking HRT? Do you have concerns about the possible risks of using the drugs? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Do you take HRT or are thinking about taking HRT? Do you have concerns about the possible risks of using the drugs? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a telephone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Please include a telephone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Have your say | Have your say |