Reduce Breast Cancer Risks, Delay Hormone Therapy During Menopause

Hot flashes may be a sign of lower breast cancer risks

New studies found that women who delay hormone replacement therapy after starting menopause may be at lower risks of breast cancer when compared to women who begin hormone therapy close to the start of menopause.

Additionally, women experiencing hot flashes may notice lower risks of breast cancer as well.

Researchers explain that menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes and night sweats, are caused by the change in hormones. Therefore, altering these hormones with therapy may increase specific cancer risks for women.

The magic number to wait before having any hormone therapy appears to be five years or more.

Women receiving hormone therapy five years or more after the start of menopause noticed no increase in the risk of breast cancer.

Research has determined that the duration between menopause onset and when a woman begins hormone therapy appears to be the largest determining factor in breast cancer risk.

The National Cancer Institute journal published an entire study about these findings.