An experience with estrogen replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome of breast cancer patients who elected estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).


METHODS
Breast cancer survivors who elected ERT received the preferred regimen of conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg/day with medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/day.


RESULTS
145 patients received ERT for at least 3 months. Thirteen recurrences (9%) were identified; 10 are alive with disease, 3 are dead of disease. The median interval between diagnosis and commencement of ERT was 41 months. Forty-one percent of the study group initiated ERT within 3 years of their breast cancer diagnosis. The median duration of follow-up on ERT was 30 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The concern that ERT might activate growth in occult metastatic sites and promote a rash of recurrences was not confirmed. It is unreasonable to categorically deny all breast cancer survivors ERT.
Brewster
W R
WR
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange 92868, USA.
DiSaia
P J
PJ
Grosen
E A
EA
McGonigle
K F
KF
Kuykendall
J L
JL
Creasman
W T
WT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate