Godfrey Habil Mudhune
Western Sydney University, Australia
Title: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in menopause: exploring the relationship between breast cancer risk factors and patterns of use amongst women in Queensland
Biography
Biography: Godfrey Habil Mudhune
Abstract
Background: The use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy in Australia declined by 55% from 2001 to 2005 following the publication of the Women’s Health Inititive trial findings, which highlighted an increased risk of breast cancer (Velentzis et al., 2016). In 2010, an estimated 539 cancers in Australia were attributable to menopausal hormone therapy, 453 breast (3.4%), 67 endometrial (3.1%) and 19 ovarian cancers (1.6%) (Jordan et al., 2015). It was further estimated that if 25% less women used hormone therapy 141 cancers would be prevented and the sole use of estrogen only products would prevent 240 cancers.
Aim: To explore the relationship between the use of menopausal hormone therapy and pre-exiting non-modifiable breast cancer risk factors; personal or family history, early menarche or low parity. It was based on analysis of questionnaire data collected by the BreastScreen Queensland programme.
Results: A positive personal history of breast cancer did not significantly influence the use of HRT, OR 1.117 (95% CI, 0.8945 – 1.3930), p=0.3274. However, women with a positive family history of breast cancer were less likely to have used any HRT compared to those with no family history, OR 0.8528 (95% CI, 0.7635 – 0.9526), p=0.00478. No significant difference in HRT use was noted between mothers and non-mothers, OR 1.101 (95% CI, 0.9702-1.2490), p=0.1360.
Conclusion: Of the examined non-modifiable breast cancer risk factors, only a family history influenced the use of HRT. The pre-existence of non-modifiable breast cancer risk factors has a minimal effect on the pattern of HRT use amongst women in Queensland.