New insights on breast cancer

In recent years, women have heard only bad news about the use of estrogen and progestin to ease symptoms of menopause. Researchers halted a major government study of so-called combination therapy, when women taking these hormones were shown to have a higher risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Now, The New York Times reports, there is some second thinking.

A controversial new review of data suggests some good news: certain women who take estrogen alone, without progestin, to treat menopause symptoms may actually be protected from breast cancer.

The review drew immediate criticism from researchers who said it was merely a rehash of old data. But the oncologist behind the report, Dr. Joseph Ragaz, a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia, said the evidence that estrogen can protect against breast cancer had been largely ignored, and that it was time to shine a spotlight on the findings.  

“The data were absolutely missed. They weren’t emphasized, and they weren’t brought to the attention of oncologists,” said Dr. Ragaz, who said he had no ties to any drug firms. “These data are nevertheless very much important because they add to the evidence for estrogen being protective.”

Details at the link. And there's more news on Vitamin D.

More than half of women with breast cancer have low vitamin D levels, British researchers report. 

"Women with breast cancer should be tested for vitamin D levels and offered supplements, if necessary," says researcher Sonia Li, MD, of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Middlesex, England. The findings were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.