ENDOMETRIAL CANCER AND HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY - APPROPRIATE USE OF PROGESTINS TO OPPOSE ENDOGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS ESTROGEN

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy; it is es timated for 1997 that 34,000 cases will be reported of which 6000 will result in death. Many of these cases are preventable by identifying p atients with known risk factors, utilizing simple outpatient endometri al sampling techniques, and treating patients at risk with progestin t herapy. Hormone replacement (in appropriate doses), using progestin al one, or progestin and estrogen combined, depending on the endogenous h ormonal status of the patient, can decrease the incidence of this mali gnancy.