Combination Of Alcohol and HRT May Increase Risk Of Breast Cancer

1.5 drinks daily, plus HRT may double risk

Monday, November 18, 2002

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have found that consuming alcohol while taking postmenopausal hormones may significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. The results are published in the November 19^th issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Our research suggests that postmenopausal women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by modifying their alcohol consumption, especially when they are making important decisions about hormone replacement therapy," said Wendy Chen, MD, of BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "While independently, both of these factors are known to impact cancer risk, the combination also needs to be considered."

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 190,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually.  It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today.

Using data from the BWH-based Nurses' Health Study, researchers compared women's use of postmenopausal hormones and their alcohol intake. That data showed that postmenopausal women who consumed approximately 1.5 drinks daily were at a 30 percent greater risk of breast cancer than those who had little to no intake of alcohol. By taking postmenopausal hormones for more than five years and having on average 1.5 drinks of alcohol per day, the risk of breast cancer was almost doubled.

"Breast cancer is a disease in which many risk factors, such as genetics or family history cannot be controlled," said Chen. "As many women are weighing the pros and cons of postmenopausal hormones, our study suggests that alcohol consumption is an important decision to consider. Fortunately, both alcohol intake and use of HRT are factors women can take into their own hands."

The study was based on analysis of health and dietary data accumulated over 14 years from 44,187 postmenopausal women participating in the Nurses' Health Study. During the period of the study, 1,722 cases of invasive breast cancer were identified.

The Nurses' Health Study was initiated in 1976 at Brigham and Women's Hospital.  The NHS is the longest running major women's health study ever undertaken and has resulted in hundreds of journal articles, many containing groundbreaking findings on how to prevent some of the major causes of disease and death in women.

BWH is a 716-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare System, an integrated health care delivery network. Internationally recognized as a leading academic health care institution, BWH is committed to excellence in patient care, medical research and the training and education of health care professionals. The hospital's preeminence in all aspects of clinical care is coupled with its strength in medical research. A leading recipient of research grants from the National Institutes of Health, BWH conducts internationally acclaimed clinical, basic and epidemiological studies.

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