Steep drop in breast cancer rates
Less hormone therapy plus less screening
USA – A steep drop in breast cancer rates between 2002 and 2003 correlates with the decline in hormone therapy use, according to research froma the American Cancer Society (ACS).
However, the researchers also point out that the decline might indicate that fewer instances were detected because mammogram screenings had levelled off. (Between 1980-98, when mammograms became more common, breast cancer rates rose fast and by almost 40%).
The greatest decline in rates was among women 50-69 years old – those most likely to receive hormone therapy. However, the researchers say that stopping hormone therapy cannot explain their other major finding: breast cancer rates started to drop in 1999, for all women 45 and above, well before the link between hormone therapy and health problems was discovered. They reason that the most likely explanation for this earlier decline is, after almost 12 years of increase, mammography use levelled off during those years.
The ACS also believes that part of the decline in breast cancer cases might be temporary, which would mean there has been a delay in detection, rather than an actual decrease in incidence.
This article was published on 06/20/2007