Approximately, 75% of women experience symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and night sweats, which can last an average of five years.⁴² Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has long been known as the most effective treatment for these symptoms.

Unfortunately, HRT’s use decreased dramatically after the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative Study reported an association between HRT and worse health outcomes, including increased breast cancer risk.¹²

However, follow up studies indicated that there were subgroups of women for whom estrogen decreases breast cancer risk. These subgroups remained to be identified, until recently.

A MiraKind study showed that estrogen withdrawal, which occurs after oophorectomy (the removal of both ovaries), with the discontinuation of HRT, or at menopause, appears to increase cancer risk in women with the KRAS-variant.⁷ These findings indicate continuing estrogen with HRT may be beneficial for women with the KRAS-variant in these settings, if not otherwise contraindicated. It also suggests that KRAS-variant women may be a subgroup who are protected from cancer development through continued estrogen use.

Do you have questions? Learn more about menopause and speak to a menopause specialist OB/GYN or nurse practitioner at gennev.com.