In the randomized Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, postmenopausal women treated with estrogen-progestin hormone therapy (HT) had a higher incidence of breast cancer than the placebo group. (JAMA 2002;288:321).

An observational study paralleled the randomized trial, which showed the annual incidence of breast cancer was significantly higher in the HT users than in non users and it was highest when initiated at menopause. Unfortunately, some physicians still advice patients short term use of HT is safe in early post-menopause. (J Natl Cancer Inst 2013 Apr 17; 105:526).