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Cancer Causes & Control
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control 9/2007

01-11-2007 | Original Paper

Endometrial cancer risk in estrogen users after switching to estrogen–progestin therapy

Authors: Jessica Chubak, Jennifer A. Doherty, Kara L. Cushing-Haugen, Lynda F. Voigt, Babette S. Saltzman, Deirdre A. Hill, Shirley A. A. Beresford, Noel S. Weiss

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 9/2007

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Abstract

Objective

It is unknown whether postmenopausal unopposed estrogen users are better off, in terms of endometrial cancer risk, switching to a combined estrogen–progestin regimen or stopping hormone use altogether.

Methods

We analyzed data from a series of three population-based case–control studies in western Washington state during 1985–1999, comparing proportions of “switchers” and “stoppers” in cases and controls. We also assessed whether the risk of endometrial cancer in either group of former unopposed estrogen users returned to that of never users.

Results

After multivariate adjustment using unconditional logistic regression, women who switched to a combined regimen with a progestin added for at least ten days/month (37 cases, 47 controls) had half the risk of endometrial cancer of women who stopped hormone use altogether (86 cases, 78 controls) (adjusted odds ratio = 0.5, 95% confidence interval: 0.3–1.1). Most subgroups of former users, whether they switched or stopped, had some increased risk of endometrial cancer compared to never users.

Conclusions

Results from this study suggest that unopposed estrogen users may reduce their risk of endometrial cancer more by switching to a combined regimen with progestin added for at least ten days/month than by stopping hormone use altogether.
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Metadata
Title
Endometrial cancer risk in estrogen users after switching to estrogen–progestin therapy
Authors
Jessica Chubak
Jennifer A. Doherty
Kara L. Cushing-Haugen
Lynda F. Voigt
Babette S. Saltzman
Deirdre A. Hill
Shirley A. A. Beresford
Noel S. Weiss
Publication date
01-11-2007
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 9/2007
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9040-6

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