Cancer is a dreadful disease and often can result in a long slow painful death. The end is awful for those stricken with this horrible illness. Anything that increases the risk must be terribly worrying for those taking HRT.

If one can live their life keeping well away from drug company pills and potions, this must surely reduce their chances of a cocktail of illnesses, including cancer.

People should watch G.Edward.Griffen's....World Without Cancer
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-25272465107200...

Relative Risk of 1.2? This means there is NO risk.

This is diabolical journalism coupled with diabolical epidemiology.

I really despair when I read this nonsense. Women who need these drugs could be scared from taking them because of this junk science and junk reporting.

Ironically, you can blame the likes of ASH and the BMA for creating this state of affairs. They told everyone a Relative Risk of 1.16 was dangerous when everyone else was using a standard of 2 or 3. Now any old rubbish is seen as risky.

The evil idiots that wanted to make 'passive smoking' to look risky have an awful lot to answer for. Their fake deaths are going to result in real deaths. One day it's HRT, the next it's asprin or whatever. Everything is linked to cancer because nothing can't be with the stupid standards imposed by the smoke nazis.

Maureen Moore, along with many others, will be responsible for killing people. Sick? You bet.

I take bioidentical HRT and it's not artificial. Read Suzanne Sommers books. She consults with the top physicians in the medical field and the bioidentical hormones are not harmful to you. Go to a Naturopath doctor. Take care of yourself.

#3 Ooof -- I'll be amazed if you get tae stay.

A few hot flushes must be preferable to malignant growths any day of the week.

ladies dont you just love how these men think the flushes etc are no problem !!!!!!
day to day life is a risk - these symptoms can last for years and years
i will choose to stay on the tablets - thanks very much

#3 Ever heard of Premature Ovarian Failure? Menopause through cancer? Lots of women that take HRT aren't 'older women', don't need a shave and are really quite fragrant. Smelling of fish? Seriously - you should have a word with yourself.

Decided not to report you as unsuitable - although you so clearly are - as it's important that people know there's still ignorant misogynists out there. Men who despise women that much usually have a whole heap of problems themselves - bless.

It's not just hot flushes. Women don't take HRT just to avoid getting sweaty or to hold back aging. Mood swings, depression, oesteoporosis, anxiety, forgetfulness, headaches etc. All these during a time when many women are still very active, contributing to society, bringing up children, hoping to live full lives.

The advise is to "seek Dr's opinion"? Obviously never been to your average GP then have they?

It's a choice women have to make - increase the chances of cancer or - in many cases - be able to function. I'm with #9, I need to be able to work, I need to be able to rear my children and support my husband, for a number of years yet so I'll stick with the patches.

Try: hot flushes every hour around the clock - it's exhausting.

It starts as a burning hot glow in the centre of your back and spreads to leave you sweating and peeling off layers, only to put them back on again immediately to prevent getting a chill. This is EVERY hour, NIGHT and DAY.

Having to stop the HRT due to - would you believe cancer - I found a homeopathic cocktail quickly improved the flushes. Wish I'd tried it years earlier.

My wife was taken off HRT by her GP after years of treatment and went downhill rapidly.To see her suffer " hot flushes " is no joke, all day and all night she is soaked to the skin. She has tried cool pillows and every other so called aids she could find but to no avail. She then read last week a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association that HRT reduced heart attacks so she made an appointment to see her GP ( she is going this efty ) and now this report which has put the cat amongst the pigeons again. I got hormone treatment during my cancer treatment and suffered the same hot flushes but not as severe and it brought home how bad it is to suffer hot flushes.So if you aint had it or seen it then don't make flippant comments is my advice.

#12 Liz M
Could you tell me your homeopathic cocktail and i will pass on to my wife, she is sufferng big time and anything is worth a try.
Thanks
jim lad.

This is JUNK SCIENCE. It has no place in the Lancet or a National newspaper.

Shame on the zealots who abandonned science for political motivations. You have ruined this world.

No. 4:- So smoking isn't harmful and passive smoking isn't harmful. Assuming you are correct, which I doubt, what gives you the right to blow smoke over me such that I end up smelling like an ashtray?
Back to the article, homeopathic treatments can help with menopausal conditions and should be considered.

Can't remember exactly.
Pulsatilla was one of them.
You have to read up SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES about the remedies and choose things which suit the individual person. Different sources will mention different properties etc for each remedy, so you have to collate the information. Homeopathy is not a quick fix; you'll have to do your research on the internet and in books and try various combinations. Different things work for different people.
Get supplies from: Boots (own brand and Nelsons) or www.baldwins.co.uk

If she's not already into herbal teas, check them out too.

And essential oils; try lavender and chamomile rubbed onto wrists, temples and back of neck before bed. (does your wife suffer from a really tense neck too?)
(I don't rate Boots lavender oil - prefer Holland and Barrett, haven't tried Baldwins yet).

The Lavender and chamomile oil trick also helps with tickly coughs at bedtime; just thought I'd add that!

Good luck.

No 14, Jim:- You could google it on the internet. Put something like "homeopathic treatment for menopause". Best of luck.

The best monitoring process is patient to doctor and regular (6 monthly?) checks should help reassure sufferers rather than knee jerk reactions to controversial statistics. Added to that, where the sufferer has a partner, the care and understanding of that partner would help to manage the condition, although not, of course be able to remove it.
#10 - Not all men are misogynists, caring men understand women's issues. Just as not all women are misandrists and caring women understand men's issues. #3 is not typical and his misplaced attempt at humour/shock will appeal only to him, always assuming that #3 is male.

#16 Liz M
Thanks a mil,she has tried lavender but gets severe headaches with it she doesn't get the neck tensions you speak of but as i said in my post #13 she is going to her GP this efty so keeping fingers crossed for her.Thanks again,
jim lad.

Having had a hysterectomy six years ago I started taking HRT. About a year later I decided to stop using it after all the negatives I was reading in the paper. I still get the hot flushes and the night time sweats, but I dont have a beard or smell of fish!

I asked my Doctor earlier on this week fos his honest opinion on whether I should go back onto HRT. He said I would be better looking at herbal remedies instead and he recommended that I try Napiers. I have visited the website and have to say that it does look interesting and I will be ordering one of their products to see if it will help.

I would much prefer to use a herbal remedy than something that could perhaps kill me any day of the week.

#17 Nell
Thanks ,i will try that. I am new to computing,only got one last xmas so am still learning so the obvious doesn't always apply to me but i am learning all the time.Thanks again,
jim lad.

No. 21 Jim:- I'm sure there is an Association of Homeopaths or some other registered type association which will be able to provide you with details of a homeopath in your area. Other alternative remedies such as reflexology may help and its possible that diet (as in many other illnesses/conditions) could be contributary, maybe someone else could comment. Obviously seeing a homeopath and/or alternative remedies is not cheap. Again, good luck.

#21 try a search on 'Maca' or magnet therapy, my partner is now using a magnet worn on the pants, but she has only had it less then a month so i'm unsure if it works, Maca is another alternate therapy she tried but it didn't work well for her. It is trial & error (bit like HRT dosing) as to what will work for each individual.

I wish Cancer Research would concentrate curing cancer instead of putting out disinformation about non-existent health risks.

A 20% increase is a statistical blip, it proves nothing.

Thankfully, I have a doctor who also understands and uses alternative remedies where he thinks they will help, so when the time comes I will be consulting him. There's been a high incidence in cancer on my mum's side of the family (all smoking related admittedly, 5 got it..all 5 , including my mum, are now dead) so if I can go down the alternative route then I will. I have been taking evening primrose oil for about a year now mind you, and so far so good.

As for #3..........pathetic attempt at getting attention

Its hardly news, comes as "NO" surprise, and leaet off all, a shock!
Taking oestrogen's are, bad news for woman, FULL STOP!
What about Stilboestrol?? given to woman in the 1960s/70s, to dry up breast milk, because breast feeding was "out off fashion", and woman developed breast cancer, because they were given this, "high dose" oestrogen!
Oh but when the medical profession, get it wrong! all that "white wash" crap comes out! "the benefits out-way the risks"! let them that say such rubbish, swallow their wonder drugs, and when they are dying from cancer, there is no need to say "I told you so"

I wish more cancer research was going into causes of cancer.

What was it that I ate, drank or ingested which my body couldn't deal with?

My tumour was not tested for oestrogen receptors; was the HRT a contributing factor or not? Was there something else which triggered it? why is the testing not more thorough?

While on the subject of HRT:
I spent years taking the (very small) tablet immediately before bed, with just a sip of water and eventually none at all. Eventually it caused a burning feeling in my oesophagus and stomach; they are now sensitive to some foods which feel as if they burn. I didn't discover the cause until I stopped taking the tablets.
Moral: don't take the tablet on an empty stomach and drink plenty to wash it down.

#23 Nell
# 24 ddmc/ Thanks to both of you,seems we have upset #22 jennifer hardly worth commenting on eh.

These are the kind of reports that give statistics a bad name. I know, I'm a statistician.
Two and a half years ago, I was taken off HRT, due to fibroids. Since then, the osteoarthritis from which I suffer, has become a lot worse. I hear from other women, as well as my GP, that this is a common, if seldom reported side-effect of discontinuing HRT treatment. I also have hot flushes, and terrible night sweats (still), but so far no beard, and no-one has complained of fishy odours. More troublesome are the mood swings and memory loss.
So now, instead of the risks of HRT, I have the risks of the side-effects of anti-inflammatories and morphine-based painkillers. So many of my joints are affected that surgical replacement would cost a fortune, with the attendant risks of MRSA and post-operative embolism. Basically, I'm stuffed, whichever way you hack it. It has to be said, however, that I still enjoy life to the full, thanks to innate stubbornness, coupled with a sense of humour and a loving, supportive husband. Plus of course, a Blue Badge.
I'd go back on HRT, and take my chances, if they'd let me. I can't help wondering if all this hype is a cunning plan to cut drug costs? Fair enough, but they'll have a lot of extra costs thanks to osteoporosis in a few years time, and someone else will be in charge then - or am I just being cynical.
Thanks for the tip re homeopathy,it helped with depression some years ago, I'll see what it says re arthritis.

Is this an exercise in statistics - based on replies to a long questionnaire - or is it research?

For example, did the researchers examine the medical record of each of the 1,591 deaths involved to verify their conclusions?

Then there's the question of statistical significance:

"From this, the researchers ... calculated that for every 1,000 women taking HRT, 2.6 developed ovarian cancer over five years - compared with 2.2 per 1,000 in women who did not use HRT."

This converts into:

For every 1,000 women taking HRT, 0.26 per cent develop ovarian cancer over five years - compared with 0.22 per cent who did not use HRT.

Without access to sophisticated statistical formulae, I cannot say whether - or to what extent - the difference are statistically significant but it looks improbable.

It's perhaps worth pondering the political agenda underpinning this kind of research - by no means the first attempt to smear HRT, which brings much benefit to its many users.

Thanks #32, couldn't have put it better myself!
HRT is expensive when viewed from one side of an argument, but may be saving money (and lives) in the long term. A recent report, based on the same data that put an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, now says HRT may actually reduce the risk.
Politicians are seldom interested in anything beyond the next election, and balancing the books now is more important to them than longterm benefits.
#3 - you sound like a right MCP. Try walking a mile in the shoes of one of the women currently suffering the symptoms described, see if you feel like sneering then.
Back to #32, we know the sample size, so the standard error could be calculated, and thence the statistical significance. Don't worry about it, the sample size alone tells us that the there is no statistical significance to these data, it's a hype headline dreamed up to distract us from whatever else the powers-that-be are up to

This is unbelievable sensationalist reporting by the press and does not really show the actual risk – more damage will come from the fear and worry caused by this type of reporting than from any use of such drugs that help millions of women cope with menopause. You are more at risk of dieing in a car crash than by taking HRT treatment – this is the real context of the risk.
Who do you trust – your own doctor or some jumped up little journalist desperate to boost his career?

well, yet again there is no 'real' issue here. Cancer is the scurge of all evil. There are many things we can do to try and protect ourselves from certain variances, but people still smoke, drink and eat crappy hormone filled foods.

#3, what a crock! Obviously you have no clue what you are on about.

starflower oil, evening primrose oil are both very good at helping menopausal women.

I am dreading this when it comes to me. Like Scottie, most of the family on my mothers side have died of cancer, again smoking related or coal mine related. Maybe its time to address how we live our lives.

Don't worry about Skirvy #3 - he's hardly out of nappies - gave himself away on the Simpson Thread - knows no better!

Any incidence of cancer has the potential to be a personal tragedy (I know, I've had one but am still here thanks to early diagnosis, rapid treatment and a wonderful NHS), but to spread this sort of alarmist nonsense smacks of trying to prevent women from taking control of their own health.

"During this time the 59-year-old from Nairn has also had to decide whether she should continue taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as more and more research has linked the treatment to a higher risk of cancer."

Whilst I respect this woman's own dilemma, it is wholly misleading to suggest that "more and more research has linked the treatment to a higher risk of cancer". Recent research, excluding this latest batch, has actually suggested the evidence of increased risk of cancer is, at best, partial and that where the risk is increased, the increase is from such a small base that saying there is a "20%" increase is only designed to shock and not to inform.

When we moved house and GP a couple of years ago, my wife was told by her new GP (a man) that he would be reviewing her HRT prescription with a view to stopping it altogether. What arrogance! Surely she should have been presented with a list of the options, the associated risks and ASKED to agree what was most appropriate? How can moving house mean the risk has changed? That was just one (uninformed) man's view. Fortunately, my wife could afford to see a private practitioner (a woman) and got better advice and is now on a lower dose of a different hormone than before we moved.

I would never ask her to keep taking HRT if she felt uncomfortable about the risk nor would I ask her to stop on the basis of media scaremongering. The earlier comments about the symptoms of the menopause being a joke compared with the risk of getting cancer are just plain ignorance.

It is not a man-thing is it?
Men sometimes think they know, but they don't.
They should stop meddling and stop coming out sympathy,
Whether or not these treatments can cause cancer or any other horrible disease is neither here nor there,
The "woman" who is suffering at any given point in time is the only one who can decide what is best for them.

My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year and went through chemo and all that. She had been on HRT for a quite a while. Her and I both believe there is some truth in this article. I myself am very frightened to take HRT in the future. Watching her lose her hair and suffer through cancer as been horrendous.

#38 jennifer
Behave, i'm a happy married man,you're giving me hot flushes phew!

My Mum contracted ovarian cancer when she was 50 and as soon as she was diagnosed they took her off HRT and she was never allowed on it again. Sadly she died a few years later. I always remember the way she was instantly told to stop taking the drug and thought that i'd try to steer clear of it when the hellish time comes. I do think guys have no idea what menopause really means for women, except for the guys that live with those woman and can watch first hand!

Homeopathic is the way to go i think. I've been taking Evening Primrose Oil for about 6 wks and already it has much improved pmt/skin/mood swings! Worth a try. The media definitely use scare mongery to sell the papers, but if it makes us question stuff and investigate a little more to find the right solutions for ourselves then at least some good can come of it.

Jim, I'm sure your wife will find something that works for her :-)

this drug was positively PUSHED at us back at the time I was beginning to experience symptoms. It needed real will power to say no. ALL my friends went on it. I did not. I reckoned that menopause was a natural part of life, I had troubles when starting my periods, I could expect trouble when finishing them. I reckoned that letting life take its course would mean quicker results. This was not surprising for me as I have consistently refused all medication and each thing that has been pushed at me has later been proved disastrous - morning sickness I was offered thalidomide, did not take it - arthritis offered various damaging drugs - I was struck off a doctors list for refusing to take it. My advice is steer clear of the lot of them and ignoreall medical advice

have you noticed how many men on viagra are having heart attacks? dont interfere with nature I say. Its nonsense to say anyone 'needs' hrt or viagra

#44 & 46 Geraldine Firequeen - SPOT ON!!!
I too was offered Thalidomide when I first got pregnant in the '60's, but thank God I also refused and decided to go about my mornings "naturally".
As they say, "one man's medicine is another man's poison".

Looks like the media sensationalising again.
Agree with all comments re poor use of statistics.
32 TM - you are right - "It's perhaps worth pondering the political agenda underpinning this kind of research - by no means the first attempt to smear HRT, which brings much benefit to its many users." Amongst these benefits, amelioration of osteoarthritis and reduction of osteoporosis are major.

My mother died of ovarian cancer in 2003, and having watched the suffering she went through, I personally would avoid anything that was known to give me even a 0.01% greater chance of getting this horrible disease.

I realise that everyone has to die sometime and that everything is risky to some extent, but believe me, ovarian cancer is as unpleasant a way to die as there can possibly be.

Whether this story is scaremongering or not, I am always happy to see ovarian cancer highlighted in the media, no matter what the circumstances. The awareness of this disease is far too low and very few people are even aware of the symptoms.

I seriously urge women to have a quick look at http://www.ovarian.org.uk and make themselves more aware.

#37 Wini.
Correct answer. There is no way that correct statistical analysis without accounting for margins of error can be taken seriously. Scaremongering at best. Misinformation in the press at worst.

I to share a conspiritist viewpoint that a political agenda might be at large ..... think of how much the NHS would save by not having to supply HRT!

I avoided HRT for years but finally had to do something. The doctors tried for years to put me on their allopathic medicine and I did try it a couple times only finding I had more problems then soloutions. I had given up until I found out about Bio Identicles, made from plant products. Unlike most herbal products, it was within a rather short period of time and I had relief from the hot flashes and the dryness which made it impossible for an intimate relationship with my husband. Jim Lad, please check into it for your wife. I do get checked regulary by a WOMAN OB/GYN to make sure there is not problem. I also have a wonderful GP that is understanding about "alternative" medicine and will discuss all with the people under his care. Most important I have a loveing and understanding and caring husband that has supported me through this and all my decisions of what to do with my body. One other item...the power of ones own mind. If you have a positive attitude I believe that you can deal with anything you are given to handle.

we've been discussing this issue on our forum, and the conclusion we have come to is....discuss with your own gp all the treatments available be they chemical or homeopathic and decide for YOURSELF what you think is right for you.

yet another scaremongering one sided view. you can rejig statistics any way you like. everything in life is a risk. how many of you moaning about dangers of HRT actually bother to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg daily? how many of you smoke?
we are seeing more cancer cases nowadays as people are living much longer, the medical profession are doing their best to allow informed choices for patients. sensationalised scare stories dont help anyone. if you dont want the medication dont take it. men, allow your wives to make their own choice as you dont have to suffer the symptoms!

I am 62. Never on HRT. Menopause was no big deal. A few hot flushes, one year, long ago. I did have a year (53) with a surprising drop in sexual interest. Fortunately I was single and did not have to feel guilty about it and a spouse did not have to cope with my disinterest. I came up from that valley a year later and enjoy a healthy interest of sex in a happy marriage.

I am a vegetarian. Vegetarians rarely have extreme menopausal symptoms. They don't worry about osteoporosis either. The Japanese never had a word for hot flash, until they started their rush to a western diet of beef. South and central American women in cultures based on meals of corn/beans/squash don't have menopause symptoms. In cultures where older women are revered for their wisdom there are no terrible menopausal symptoms. Likewise in cultures with no other form of birth control: women celebrate menopause as freedom from more pregnancies.

Jim Lad, your wife needn't spend money on anything other than nutritious food (and we all know what that is). Cut out meat entirely or greatly reduce its intake. Same with dairy. Nutritious food and good sleep: doctor-free, easy, cheap. Worried about protein? See
http://www.pcrm.org/health/Info_on_Veg_Diets/protein.html

All the best, Jean

55, I am with you all the way Jenny Munn!
Good food, good living, less worrying.

JimLad, please tell your wife that there are some commonly used anti-depressant pills that might alleviate her symptoms. I've had to do the last 5 years without the help of HRT because I cannot tolerate artificial hormones. I've not been comfortable, but much better than I was before the treatment with the anti-depressants commenced. Not all are working, but I'm sure your wife's GP or GYN would know.

Jean @55, I'm not sure if I'd do the veggie route, my wife eats everything that is bad for you (some say). lots of meat, potatoes, few veg, loads of chocolates, cream, But also loads of fruit. She does a lot of walking and runs up and down stairs! and weighs 8 stone.
Her doctor would not put her on HRT and that was 20 years ago!
She has had very few sweats but still gets monthly bloating and tenderness which she says she can put up with.
We have discussed the HRT issue and she says, don't mess about with nature. So you see, different people have different ideas.

To all sufferers out there: I haven't seen anyone mention BLACK COHOSH or SOY: try these if you want a herbal alternative. The former worked for me with respect to the hot flashes (which are horrendous, but the memory loss is worse!).

Re memory loss: My GP recommended these--Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl, 500 mg., once a day; and Phosphatidylserine complex, 1000 mg., twice a day.

They do help.

as long as you remember to take them beverly ;-)

only joking....the alternative route has worked well for me on many occasions so I will def. be persuing it come the time :-)

I agree that very few women NEED hrt, and there are herbal alternatives as Beverly above. I don't like taking aspirin never mind anything else. Plus there's the ethical side of how they get the hormone.

HRT and hormonal-induced cancers are very dependant on two genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. For a full explanation of the mechanisms and related issues of both this and a wide-range of fitness issues visit http://www.good2use.com/knet/gkbs.htm
Registration is required but it is free. You will be amazed what this site has to offer.

Thank you to all who replied to me.

I was diagnosed with menopause at the age of 38 and resisted going on HRT for a couple of years. Finally gave in as could not cope with night sweats etc. A couple of years ago my doctor suggested weaning of HRT. Have done so, but am still getting menopausal symptoms but will not go back on HRT - I am 65 years old!! In effect I was on HRT for approximately 22 years. So far everything appears to be fine. Why on earth are we guinea pigs for these pharmaceutical companies???

#20 Napiers the herbalist in Edinburgh has an excellent reputation,the shop has been there since I was a wee girl.I had an aunt used to go there for various prescriptions and whatever she got seemed to work.

I have the menopause to look forward to (or not,as the case may be)I find most of the medical advice/articles very confusing and to be honest I intend to try the herbal route first,when the time comes.I will probably try Napiers as my first port of call.

Re the posting about ladies from other countries-my sister-in-law is from South Korea originally and she didnt know of half the illnesses or cancer etc till she lived here,she is in her 50s looks brilliant and practically lives on fish and fruit,occasionally meat.I often wonder if the person talking about diet has a point.The British diet is notorious for being rubbish.