About 14,000 fewer women were diagnosed with the breast cancer than had been expected in the USA according to a report presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium recently.

In July 2002, the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) study was stopped after more breast cancers and heart problems occurred among women taking oestrogen-progestin pills. That led to new warning labels on the drugs and doctor groups urging women to use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Within a year, about half of women who had been taking hormones stopped.

This new American analysis revealed that breast cancer rates dropped >7% in 2003 and strongly suggests that the reason is less hormone use. Cases dropped most among women >50 years of age — the age group taking hormones. The decline was biggest for oestrogen-sensitive tumors — the type most affected by hormone use. In fact, when both factors were combined, ie. older women with oestrogen-positive tumors, the drop was 12%.

The decline was seen in every single cancer registry that reports information to the federal government, and no big change occurred with any other major type of cancer. A separate study by the American Cancer Society, currently in press with a medical journal, also documents the drop in cases. These are strong signs that the breast cancer decline is no statistical fluke or error.

Breast cancer is the most common major cancer in American women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. About 213,000 new cases are expected to occur in the United States this year and more than 1 million worldwide.

Reference news video: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/scp?v3/viewer/index.php?pid=16598&rn=49750&cl=1444367&ch=61492&src=news

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