Hormone Replacement Therapy Reduces Distal Colon Cancer Risk

Using hormone replacement therapy has been a controversial treatment for post-menopausal women since a 2002 study found it increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer. A new study by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, offers a different perspective and found that using hormone replacement therapy can cut the risk of developing distal colon cancer in women of all races. The distal part of the colon is the section closest to the rectum.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, examined 443 women with distal colon cancer and 405 healthy women. The authors explained that the reduced risk of distal colon cancer may be partially related to long-term use of hormone replacement therapy, which is no longer recommended.