According to NPR, women between the ages of 50 and 59 who undergo hormone therapy as a way to counter menopause symptoms have significantly less risk for heart disease and breast cancer than a woman who undergoes the same therapy and is over the age of 60. But, while the risk is lower, it still exists.
“For every 1,000 women per year not using hormone therapy, about three would develop breast cancer,” said Dr. JoAnn Manson to NPR. “And among every 1,000 women using hormone therapy, about four of them would develop breast cancer, so that’s about one extra case of breast cancer per 1,000 women per year on hormone therapy.”
The degree to which menopause symptoms are felt vary depending on the woman is a risk-benefit analysis that has to occur between said woman and her physician, so before trying any hormone therapy, consider talking to a healthcare professional.
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