Menopausal Drug Prempro Increases Breast Cancer Risk

Rowan Chlebowski a cancer specialist of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, defines the medication Prempro, as a combination of hormones estrogen and progestin which is being used by 15 to 20 percent of postmenopausal women. This drug may relieve hot flashes but increases the risk of cancer in women.

Dr. Chlebowski and associate writers reported in The Journal of the American Medical Association that had compared the drug with a placebo. Prempro had heightened a woman's risk of breast cancer and that the cancer was more apt to spread to the lymph nodes. The scientists also reported that women who took the hormones had more of a possibility to die from the cancer

The scientists result are the current information as to how safe hormone therapy really is for women.

Last year these same researchers had reported in The Lancet, that when compared with a placebo, Prempro had increased the number of lung cancer deaths, however the number of lung cancer cases was not increased.

These results are from a study called the Woman's Health Initiative, which is government sponsored. In one part of the study at random 16,000 women aged 50 to 79 years old where assigned to either take Prempro or a placebo. The study had come to a dead stop in July 2002, due to the fact using Prempro long term was discovered to increase the risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. Participants in the study were taking the drug for an average of five and half years.

In February of 2009, Dr. Chlebowski and associates had reported that women who used Prempro breast cancer risk had declined within a period of two years after stopping the drug.

In this current weeks breast cancer analysis, researchers kept track of 13,000 of the women on a average of eight years after they stopped taking the drug. To date about 1.3 extra breast cancer deaths per 10,000 women each year have occurred in those taking Prempro.

In a statement made from Prempro manufacturer Pfizer have stated they are in the process of reviewing Dr. Chlebowski findings. In part Pfizer statement had read as follows: "The increased risk of breast cancer compared to placebo has been included in Prempro's label since its introduction in 1995," "this analysis does not alter that risk, nor does it dispute hormone therapy's effectiveness."

Dr. Peter Bach of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer in New York, had wrote an additional editorial in JAMA, note that it could be concluded that taking the drug for a short term period for relieving menopausal symptoms may be safe. He further states no one has proved that and additional studies are required to discover if lower or shorter doses could provide relief of symptoms without additional risk for cancer.

Director Cynthia Pearson, of the National Woman's Health Network, agrees that is important for a woman's health.

In 2009, The New York TimesThe New York Times had reported that over-the-counter remedies are increasingly popular with women who have menopausal symptoms. Alternative treatments have gained a huge increase since 2002. Below are the top rated alternative treatments noted since 2009. They are not in any certain order.

Diet

For optimal health and well being during menopause concentration of a good diet helps. It aides in reducing the physical and mental symptoms of menopause.

A few things are as follows:

Increase daily fruit consumption. Melons, bananas and citrus fruit are high in potassium. They aide in balancing sodium and water retention.

Increase daily vegetable consumption such as dark green leafy vegetables.

Consume oily fish in your diet such as salmon.

Omit fried foods, white bread, processed cooking oils switch to olive oil or canola.

Herbal Supplements

There are numerous herbal supplements available today to help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Anxiety, depression and hot flashes are a few of the common symptoms. Some of the herbs are botanical that may help include:

Black Cohosh which contain phytochemicals that are believed to alleviate symptoms. It is also thought that this herb contains phytoestrogens particularly isoflavones that attach to the estrogen receptors in the body.

The plant estrogen works very similar to natural estrogen which includes regulating temperature and aides in strengthening bones. It comes in supplement form and many companies carry it. It can be taken up to twice a day for six months.

Maca Root is great at reducing the intensity and frequency of the symptoms. It does not have the plant estrogen but does have adaptogen which balances the body's existing hormones. Daily suggested dose is 900mg. It can be taken in capsule form three times a day with meals is suggested. It can also be boiled as a tea.

Red Clover will reduce mood swings and hot flashes. Due to the high amounts of calcium it contains it may slow down or prevent bone loss. It is usually taken in capsule form between 400 or 500mg.

Chiropractic

Will aide in restoring the body's ability to heal and balance its self by providing relief of pressure on the spinal nerve roots which control the flow of energy throughout the body. Additional chiropractic therapies can also aide in alleviating discomforts of menopausal symptoms as well as strengthening and supporting its self in future years. Diet, exercise and supplements may also be advocated.

Scientific studies have proven there is an association between spinal health and gynecological issues.

When the body is in alignment it adjusts the hormone levels due to design instead of deficiency. It also aides in relieving neck pain, back pain, migraines, headaches all related to estrogen deficiency.

It has been noted that just by receiving chiropractic care along with recommendations of exercise, supplements and diet of hormone free foods along with adequate rest will actually aide in regulating and balancing the hormonal system along with helping manage and diminishing the effects of menopause.