Hormone replacement therapy for survivors of breast cancer

Women with breast cancer who undergo therapies beyond the surgical intervention (chemotherapy, hormone therapy) often suffer from the lack of estrogens, manifesting as climacteric symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers well-established clinical benefits for the relief of menopausal symptoms, improving quality of life, and may reduce the likelihood of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. However, HRT is generally considered to be contraindicated in breast cancer patients, as no firm safety data are yet available from randomised clinical trials. After publication of results of Women's Health Initia…