Which practice regarding hormone therapy is recommended to reduce breast cancer risk?

Which practice regarding hormone therapy is recommended to reduce breast cancer risk?

• A. Use estrogen therapy indefinitely
• B. Avoidance or limited duration of hormone replacement therapy
• C. Use high-dose estrogen and progestin
• D. Stop all medications after adolescence

Answer: (B)

Minimizing exposure to hormone therapy is the strategy to reduce breast cancer risk. Breast cancer risk increases with longer use of hormone replacement therapy, especially when estrogen is combined with progestin. Therefore the best practice is to avoid long-term use and to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary, with regular re-evaluation and consideration of non-hormonal or lower-systemic options when possible. Stopping all medications after adolescence isn’t appropriate for adults needing symptom relief, and continuing estrogen indefinitely or using high-dose estrogen with progestin would raise risk rather than minimize it.

Minimizing exposure to hormone therapy is the strategy to reduce breast cancer risk. Breast cancer risk increases with longer use of hormone replacement therapy, especially when estrogen is combined with progestin. Therefore the best practice is to avoid long-term use and to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary, with regular re-evaluation and consideration of non-hormonal or lower-systemic options when possible. Stopping all medications after adolescence isn’t appropriate for adults needing symptom relief, and continuing estrogen indefinitely or using high-dose estrogen with progestin would raise risk rather than minimize it.