A new study shows that estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after ovary removal can LOWER breast cancer risk in women carrying the BRCA1 genetic mutation.
What were the findings?
- Women using HRT had many fewer cases of breast cancer (11% vs 19%)
- The longer women used estrogen-only HRT, the greater the protection
- Every additional year of use lowered risk by about 10%
Why is this important?
- This is another study to show that HRT appears safe to take in BRCA1 carriers after removing their ovaries (i.e., surgical menopause)
- Estrogen is important in premenopausal women for bone health, cardiovascular health, etc.
- If you have BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations, talk to your doctor about what options might be right for you.
Learn more at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2847514
Reference: Regev-Sadeh et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(4):e265648. PMID: 41949865.
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