From a series of 810 postmenopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and follow- up over 9 years, we compared a group of 12 cases of breast cancer with HRT and a group of 20 cases of breast cancer without HRT.
In the group with breast cancer and HRT, the mean age was 53 years (range 38-65), the mean age at menopause was 45.88 years (range 33-55), the mean years of HRT were 4.41(range 1-7). Four cases were surgical menopause and were treated with 17â-oestradiol, 6 were treated with a combination of 17â- oestradiol and diverse progestins, and 2 cases were treated with Tibolone. There was one death, two years after diagnosis, and one recurrence.
There were significant differences between the groups. In group A, with nodes in mammography (p < 0.05), and also in sonography (p < 0.01), in positive p53 protein (p < 0.05) and in radiotherapy (p < 0.05). In group B, p < 0.001, in finding in situ ductal cancer.
With these results we deduce that with HRT breast cancer is diagnosed as nodular in mammography and sonography, that p53 is positive in all cases and that radiotherapy is mostly used as a complementary conservative treatment.
From our experience, we conclude that we have HRT related breast cancer in 1.48% of our patients and that of the total number of breast cancer cases in our hospital, our cases are insignificant. We recommend HRT to improve the symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women.
