Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project

Study characteristics: 1) 1980-1995 2) 46,355 women enrolled Results: 1) increased risk of breast cancer in women taking estrogen 2) combined estrogen plus progesterone associated with a higher risk than estrogen alone 3) increased risk restricted to current estrogen use or use within 4 years 4) unopposed estrogen (without progesterone) is associated with an increased risk of uterine bleeding & uterine carcinoma 5) progesterone in combination with estrogen eliminates increased risk of uterine bleeding & endometrial carcinoma with unopposed estrogen, but may reduce beneficial effects of estrogen on serum lipids

References

Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society, 5th edition, 2002-2004