ESTROGENS AND BREAST-CANCER

In this review, we summarize the epidemiologic evidence for the associ ations of oral contraceptives and postmenopausal hormones with risk of breast cancer. We also describe the biologic plausibility of these re lationships. Overall, there appears to be little, if any, increase in risk with oral contraceptive use in general, even among users for IO o r more years. However, compared to never users, current oral contracep tive users appear to have a modest elevation in risk that subsides wit hin about 10 years after cessation of use. For postmenopausal hormones , the weight of the evidence suggests little or no increase in risk am ong users of short duration, or for use in the past. However, current longer term use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer that increases with duration. This increase in risk is large enough, a nd well enough supported, to be considered along with the other risks and benefits of postmenopausal hormone therapy.