The thoughts of physicians regarding the need to start hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how physicians felt about HRT use in breast cancer survivors a half year after the WHI trial.


METHODS
In December 2002, a questionnaire was conducted in Flanders (Belgium). The survey contained a presentation of a 35-year-old breast cancer survivor who presented with climacteric symptoms after treatment with tamoxifen.


RESULTS
With a response rate of 33.65%, a majority of the physicians did not prescribe classical oral HRT (5.40%) in this patient. Physicians prefer to prescribe tibolone (30.68%) or other alternative treatment (50.00%). The main reason was the fear for increased recurrence of breast cancer. Furthermore the WHI oestrogen plus progestin trial and its attention in the media, a half year prior to the survey, influenced one-third of the physician's prescribing attitude.


CONCLUSIONS
Two-thirds of the physicians did not change prescribing attitude after the WHI oestrogen plus progestin trial. HRT is a well proven effective treatment in breast cancer survivors with severe climacteric complaints, but a majority of physicians is not convinced of its safety in breast cancer survivors. Therefore, a majority of physicians do not find the need to prescribe HRT in breast cancer survivors.
Trinh
Xuan-Bich
XB
Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecologic Oncology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium.
Van Hal
Guido
G
Weyler
Joost
J
Tjalma
Wiebren A A
WA
D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002979:Climacteric / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen