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Study: Hormone therapy and breast cancer risk after ovary removal in women with a BRCA1 mutation

Does hormone therapy (HT) alter the risk of breast cancer for woman carrying a BRCA1 mutation who have never been diagnosed with cancer? In this study, researchers showed that among women with BRCA1 mutations, HT use did not increase breast cancer rates for 10 years after ovary removal. More women taking combined estrogen plus progesterone developed breast cancer compared to those taking estrogen only, though this difference was not statistically significant. (9/7/18)

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Contents

At a glance Media coverage
Findings     In-depth               
Clinical trials Limitation
Questions for your doctor             Resources                               


STUDY AT A GLANCE

This study is about:

Whether hormone therapy (HT) started after removal of the ovaries is associated with increased breast cancer risk among women with mutations who have never been diagnosed with cancer.

Why is this study important?

HT alleviates symptoms of menopause associated with removal of the ovaries (). Although review of medical records show that HT does not appear to change the risk of breast cancer for women with mutations who had their ovaries removed, no study has examined this issue. Knowing how HTs affect breast cancer risk may be helpful for decision making by women with BRCA1 mutations.

Study findings: 

This study followed 872 women with BRCA1 mutations who had risk-reducing oophorectomy. Among these women, 43% chose to use HTs and 57% did not. During the study period, 92 (10.6%) of the participants were diagnosed with breast cancer:

  • There was no increase in breast cancer between those who used HT compared to those who did not.
  • The rate of breast cancer differed by the type of HT used:
    • 12% of women who used estrogen-only HT were diagnosed with breast cancer.
    • 22% of women who used progesterone-estrogen combination HTs were diagnosed with breast cancer.
    • While this difference was seen, it did not reach statistical significance. However, the number of women taking progesterone-estrogen HT was small, so subtle differences may be undetectable.
    • Of note, this study suggests that alone could be associated with some benefit. For every year on estrogen-only HT, there was a relative reduction of risk compared to women who took no hormones. This same protective effect was not seen in the estrogen-progesterone combination HT. More research is needed to determine the long term benefits of estrogen-only HT.

What does this mean for me?

National guidelines recommend that all women with a BRCA1 mutation have their ovaries and removed between the ages of 35-40 to lower their risk for ovarian cancer. If you are a BRCA1 previvor who has had or will have your ovaries removed, this study showed that using hormone replacement therapy for 10 years will not increase your risk of breast cancer.

Although not statistically significant, breast cancer rates were higher in women who took HT that contains progesterone compared with women who took estrogen-only HT. It’s important to note that estrogen-only HT can increase the risk for uterine cancer. Progesterone is often given to women who have had risk-reducing ovary removal but who have not removed their uterus. Progesterone can lower the risk for uterine cancer in women who take estrogen. Women who are planning risk-reducing removal of their ovaries should speak with their health care provider about whether or not they should remove their uterus at the time of surgery.

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Posted 9/7/18


References

Kotsopoulos J, Gronwald J, Karlan BY, et al. "Hormone replacement therapy after oophorectomy and breast cancer risk among BRCA1 mutation carriers." JAMA Oncology. 2018. 4(8):1059-1065. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.0211.

Disclosure

FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.

Expert Guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides guidelines for the management of gynecologic cancer risk in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. 

Prevention

  • Risk-reducing removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes, (known as risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy or ) is recommended between ages 35-40 for BRCA1 and 40-45 for BRCA2 and upon completion of childbearing.
    • Research shows that removing the ovaries can increase survival for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. 
    • Women should talk with their doctors about the effects of early menopause and options for managing them.
  • Women should talk with their doctors about the risks and benefits of keeping or removing their uterus (hysterectomy), including:
    • Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have an increased risk for a rare form of aggressive uterine cancer; hysterectomy removes this risk. 
    • For women considering hormone replacement after surgery, the presence or absence of a uterus can affect the choice of hormones used.
      • Estrogen-only hormone replacement is less likely to increase the risk for breast cancer, although it increases the risk for uterine cancer. Women who still have their uterus are typically given hormone replacement with both estrogen and progesterone.
      • Adding progesterone to estrogen hormone replacement can protect against uterine cancer. However, the combination of these hormones may increase the risk for breast cancer more than estrogen alone. 
    • A medical history of fibroids or other uterine or cervical issues may justify a hysterectomy. 
  • Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have been shown to lower the risk for ovarian cancer in women with BRCA mutations. Research on the effect of oral contraceptives on breast cancer risk has been mixed. Women should discuss the benefits and risks of oral contraceptives for lowering ovarian cancer risk with their doctors. 
  • Removal of the fallopian tubes only () is being studied as an option for lowering risk in high-risk women who are not ready to remove their ovaries. Studies on the effects of salpingectomy are ongoing. Whether salpingectomy lowers the risk for ovarian cancer in high-risk women remains unknown. 
    • Consider enrolling in a research study looking at this procedure to lower cancer risk.

Screening

  • There are no proven benefits to routine ovarian cancer screening using transvaginal and a  blood test. These tests are not currently recommended.
  • After RRSO, a very small risk remains for a related cancer known as primary peritoneal cancer (PPC). There is no effective screening for PPC after RRSO
  • Women should be aware of the symptoms of gynecologic cancer and report abnormalities to their doctors, particularly if they persist for several weeks and are a change from normal.  These symptoms can include:
    • pelvic or abdominal pain
    • bloating or distended belly
    • difficulty eating
    • feeling full sooner than normal
    • increased urination or pressure to urinate 

Updated: 01/29/2025

Expert Guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides the following guidelines for the management of gynecologic cancer risk in people with inherited mutations that are linked to endometrial or ovarian cancer. We recommend that you speak with a genetics expert who can look at your personal and family history of cancer and help you to determine the best risk management plan. 

BRIP1, or mutation

  • Recommend risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy between the ages of 45-50.

Lynch syndrome

  • Be aware of endometrial and ovarian cancer symptoms.
  • Consider endometrial biopsy every 1-2 years beginning at ages 30-35.
  • For postmenopausal women, consider transvaginal after discussion with your doctor. 
  • Consider risk-reducing hysterectomy; discuss risk-reducing removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes with your doctor (, , and ).
  • Discuss the benefits and risks of oral contraceptives.

PTEN mutation

  • Be aware of endometrial cancer symptoms.
  • Consider endometrial biopsy every 1-2 years beginning at age 35.
  • For postmenopausal women, consider transvaginal ultrasound after a discussion with your doctor. 
  • Consider risk-reducing hysterectomy. 

Updated: 02/23/2023

Expert Guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has cancer risk management guidelines for people with inherited mutations linked to cancer. The NCCN panel's guidelines on risk management for women at high risk for ovarian cancer states: 

  • Some research shows that hormone replacement after RRSO does not negate the reduction in breast cancer risk associated with the surgery. However, the panel cautions those considering hormone replacement to consider the limitations of the existing research when making this decision.
  • Individuals who undergo hysterectomy at the time of RRSO are candidates for estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy, which has been associated with a lower risk for breast cancer compared with combined estrogen and progesterone therapy. Individuals with an intact uterus are not candidates for estrogen-only therapy due to the increased risk of endometrial cancer. 

The North American Menopause Society is a professional society of experts in the field of menopause.

  • In 2017, the organization released a position statement on hormone replacement therapy, which includes the following: 
    • Menopause symptoms and a variety of diseases are more likely to occur in women who have surgical menopause from ovary removal. These symptoms can have a major effect on quality of life and potential adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, bone, mood, sexual health and cognition, which have been shown in observational studies to be lessened by estrogen therapy. 
    • Unless contraindications are present, estrogen therapy for women who have removed both ovaries is indicated to reduce their risk of sexual side effects, bone loss, heart disease and decline. For women who retain their uterus, endometrial protection (progesterone) is indicated.
  • Specific to women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who have removed their ovaries to lower their cancer risk:
    • For women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, some evidence suggests that hormone therapy after oophorectomy does not further increase the risk for breast cancer.
    • Considerations should be made regarding the benefits of estrogen to prevent health risks caused by surgical menopause.
    • Considerations should be made (based on limited data) about hormone therapy until age 52, with discussions about longer use based on the individual patient.
  • In 2018, the organization released a joint position statement with the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health regarding the management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in women who have or are at high risk for breast cancer, including the following:
    • People with or at high risk for breast cancer should discuss treatment options for GSM with their healthcare providers, using a shared decision-making approach. 
    • For women diagnosed with breast cancer:
      • Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are recommended as initial treatment options. 
      • Local (vaginal) hormone treatment may be considered when nonhormonal options do not work. Local therapy should be individualized, taking into account the risk of disease recurrence and severity of vaginal symptoms. 
      • Intravaginal estrogens in women on tamoxifen may be less of a concern than intravaginal estrogens in women on aromatase inhibitors. 
    • For high-risk women without breast cancer who have undergone RRSO, vaginal hormone therapy is likely to be safe. 

Updated: 08/13/2024

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

  • Should I consider using HT after risk-reducing ovary removal? After menopause?
  • What kind of HT would be most appropriate for me?
  • What are other options for managing menopause without HT?
  • What risks are associated with taking or not taking HT after removal of my ovaries?
  • Can you refer me to a menopause expert?

 

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies of menopause and menopause management are for survivors and previvors.

Updated: 02/03/2024

Peer Support

FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations. 

Updated: 08/06/2022

Find Experts

The following resources can help you locate an expert near you or via telehealth. 

Finding menopause experts

  • The Menopause Society has a tool to help you find a qualified menopause expert in your area. 

Related experts

Other experts may manage some symptoms of menopause. People experiencing menopause symptoms may benefit from a consultation with the following experts:

Sexual health experts

Acupuncture experts

Sleep experts

Bone density experts

Other ways to find experts

Updated: 09/11/2024

Who covered this study?

Healio

Estrogen after oophorectomy does not increase breast cancer risk. This article rates 2.5 out of 5 stars

Cancer Therapy Advisor

Post-oophorectomy estrogen therapy may not Increase breast cancer risk in BRCA1 carriers This article rates 2.5 out of 5 stars

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