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Federal Panel
Recommends Adding Estrogen to List of Cancer Causing
Chemicals
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WASHINGTON
(Dec 12, 2000) – A government scientific
advisory panel has recommended that Estrogen (Estradiol)
be added to the nation's list of cancer-causing
agents. “Maybe,” one scientist said, “this
step might encourage doctors to talk with their
patients about both the risks and the benefits.” "Physicians
never discuss any of these risks when they are
prescribing hormone therapy," Michelle Medinsky,
a toxicologist from Durham, N.C., told the National
Toxicology Program advisory committee. "They only
discuss benefits. Listing might force it on the
table." Medinsky said. "Is knowledge power or
is ignorance bliss? Everyone has to make their
own decision," she said.
The
committee, while expressing concerns that associating
estrogen with cancer would overshadow the hormone's
usefulness, nevertheless voted 8-1 to recommend
the listing. There was no suggestion that estrogen
use be restricted or banned. An estimated 16 million
post-menopausal women take hormone therapy estrogen
or estrogen combined with progestin. The therapy
can reduce symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes
and vaginal dryness and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Some studies have suggested it reduces the risk
of heart disease. Millions of other women use
birth control pills. The amount of estrogen in
those pills has been reduced in recent years because
of the concern for inducing cancer in later years.
The advisory panel acted after looking at studies
showing that estrogen is associated with an increase
in endometrial as well as breast cancer. Doctors
already know about the cancer link. That's the
reason post- menopausal estrogen is given together
with another hormone called progestin (synthetic
progesterone). This combination has been shown
to lower the risk of uterine cancer, but may actually
increase the risk of cancer of the breasts. Panel
member Sheila H. Zahm of the National Cancer Institute
noted that NCI researchers (in a paper published
in January) found a slight increased incidence
in breast cancer in women treated with the estrogen-progestin
combination.
The
Natural Alternative: Dr. Hansen prescribes
natural plant derived estrogen (estriol rather
than synthetic estradiol) in combination with
a natural plant source of progesterone. This
natural combination has all the benefits without
the cancer causing side effects.
For
more information about natural hormones go here: Hormones
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