Benefits of estrogen therapy stack up

May 3, 1998
Web posted at: 4:59 p.m. EDT (2059 GMT)

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Two recent studies on estrogen treatments indicate the growing importance for women to weigh the risks and benefits of post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy.

Estrogen therapies are controversial in part because studies show estrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer.

But the benefits of taking estrogen after menopause keep stacking up.

Two recent studies show estrogen can lower the risk of colo-rectal cancer and reduce the severity of symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Estrogen and colo-rectal cancer

Researchers at Harvard University found post-menopausal women who took hormones could significantly lower their risk for colo-rectal cancer.

"We found that the women ... had a 35 percent lower risk of colo-rectal cancer than women who had never taken hormones," said Francine Grodstein of Brigham and Women's Hospital, which is associated with the university.

Cancer of the colon and rectum is the second-biggest cancer killer, but the colo-rectal cancer rate is decreasing.

Doctors say survival rates are increasing. They also say a healthy diet and regular exercise can also lower your chances of getting colo-rectal cancer.

Estrogen and Parkinson's disease

Researchers at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York found estrogen taken by post-menopausal women can be beneficial to women who suffer from Parkinson's disease.

"Hormone replacement may actually benefit women with early Parkinson's disease who are not yet on levodopa," said Dr. Rachel Saunders-Pullman of the medical center.

Zell's daily physical therapy session

Levodopa is the most common treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Gloria Zell, a Parkinson's patient, told CNN she's been on levodopa for 20 years. Zell tried the estrogen treatment, too, but didn't get any extra relief.

"It just did nothing for me, one way or the other, so I stopped," Zell said about her estrogen treatments.

Other studies have shown that estrogen can worsen symptoms in some Parkinson's patients.

Correspondent Al Hinman contributed to this report.

Extended coverage:

• In-Depth Health: Cancer
• In-Depth Health: Breast Cancer
• In-Depth Health: Women's Health

Related stories:

• Bone drug shows promise for breast cancer prevention - April 20, 1998
• Study: Drug cuts breast cancer rate for women at risk - April 5, 1998
• New evidence links breast cancer to electromagnetic fields - March 24, 1998

Related sites:

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• Brigham and Women's Hospital Home Page
• National Cancer Institute
• American Cancer Society

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