News & Notes

Decrease in breast cancer linked to HRT use

Researchers in the USA have reported a marked decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in 2003, possibly as a result of a decrease in use of hormone replacement therapy.

Investigators from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, analysed epidemiological data from the National Cancer Institute, presenting their results at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2006.¹

According to the study, the age‐adjusted incidence of breast cancer decreased by 7 per cent by the end of 2003, compared with 2002. This decrease was most evident in women aged 50–69 years, and largely occurred as a result of a decrease in the incidence of oestrogen‐ receptor‐positive tumours. Breast cancer incidence had been decreasing at a rate of 1 per cent per year between 1998 and 2003.

According to the researchers, the decrease in breast cancer rates is most likely associated with a drop in both HRT use and mammography rates. HRT use decreased significantly in 2002 after the Women's Health Initiative found that breast cancer risk increased for women who used the treatment for an extended period of time. In addition, mammography rates between 2000 and 2003 dropped by 1 per cent overall and by 3 per cent among women aged 50–64 years.

The findings of the Texas group were supported by a separate study in California, which found an 11 per cent decrease in incidence of breast cancer in 2003, corresponding with a decrease in use of HRT from 2002.²

Integrated contraceptive and sexual healthcare

With contraceptive and sexual health services becoming increasingly integrated, this book provides health practitioners with the knowledge they require to provide a more holistic service for patients. Theoretical information is combined with practical guidance, providing a quick reference guide for use in day‐to‐day practice. Topics covered include assessment for contraception, use of contraceptive methods, taking a sexual history, and diagnosis and treatment regimens. The book also provides an overview of confidentiality issues, sexual assault and contact tracing. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Interface Ltd