Bad News—Good News: Cancers and Bone

In this chapter, unlike the classic joke structure, I begin with the bad news, and work my way to the good news. The bad news is that women on HT do seem to be at increased risk for breast cancer. The good news is that HT does not appear to increase a woman's risk of getting endometrial or ovarian cancer and may reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, and — best news of all — has a positive effect on the health of women's bones, teeth, and possibly also skin. The challenge, for women and their doctors, lies in weighing the benefits and deficits. This chapter presents readers with crucial information about the effects of HT on cancers and bone, and uses the tools of evidence-based medicine and an informed decision making process to demonstrate how patients and physicians can come to informed decisions about the use of HT.