HRT patients urged not to panic over new research

The Irish Cancer Society has urged women on hormone replacement therapy not to panic in the wake of a study linking the treatment to breast cancer.

Research on more than one million women found that taking combined HRT doubled the risk of developing breast cancer.

The Irish Cancer Society said today that the links between breast cancer and HRT were well-known, but it said the benefits of using HRT can often outweigh the risks.

The society said women who are on HRT should not end the treatment in response to the new research.

Spokesperson Abby Langtree said: "We would not recommend that women who are on HRT come off HRT straight away. They need to talk to their GP about it and they need to inform themselves of the risk."

Ms Langtree said a fact-sheet on HRT was available through the Irish Cancer Society's helpline on 1800 30 90 40.