Hormone therapy and ovarian cancer...vitamin D

A new study of a large body of women suggest that use of HT (hormone therapy) - whether short (6 months) or longer -correlates with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. When clinicians decide to use any medication, they engage in a risk/benefit assessment, usually sharing that with the patient. Up until this study, it was believed that short term use of HT for moderate to severe persistant hot flashes was a reasonable approach, with the caveat that two years of use should be the cut off and with the understanding that after every several months of treatment the womwn should wean off the HT and see if she still needs treatment or not for persistent symptoms. This approach was to recognize the increased risk of breast cancer with use of HT, particularly longer use.

This new study now indicates that there is an increased risk of ovarian cancer even with short term use of HT. And ovarian cancer is particularly worrisome because it can often present silently , not revealing identifiable symptoms till it is quite advanced. Doctors may certainly have to re-think the "moderate hot flashes" benefit/risk ratio and obviously counsel patients who request HT for severe hot flashes. It's going to be a much tougher decision and there may be a need to re-evaluate screenng for ovarian cancer during its use.

The American Academy of Dermatologists along with other groups has now recognized the need for additional vitamin D but would like to see consumers obtain it from supplements and foods. All of the medical groups agreed that using sun exposure sans sunblock was not recommended to the risk of skin cancer. They did agree that when sunblock is used regularly, your need for vitamin D from foods and supplements increases. So ask your doctor what are the target goals of daily vitamin D that you should target and use food, supplements as your primary source.