I keep reading and hearing different things about hormone replacement therapy. I’ve been taking a combination of progesterone and estrogen for a number of years just thought that was natural part of treating “old age.” Now I’m scared of cancer. What are you hearing?

This just in from Cancer Information Service, a program of the National Cancer Institute:

Two landmark studies reported recently that women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at greater risk for some cancers.

In one study, National Cancer Institute researchers found that women who used estrogen-only HRT for 10 years or more after menopause were more likely to develop ovarian cancer than menopausal women who did not use estrogen. The risk increased along with the number of years estrogen-only HRT was used.

The findings came a week after the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute study reported that combined estrogen-progestin HRT in menopausal women increased the risk for breast cancer, heart disease, strokes and deadly blood clots.

The researchers stopped the study early because they believed the risks of the HRT outweighed the benefits. Progestin is a laboratory-made version of progesterone.

Progesterone and estrogen are natural hormones produced by the ovaries. At menopause, these hormones decrease significantly. This drop can cause hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other discomforts. Usually women go through menopause between ages 45 and 55 or after a hysterectomy.

HRT effectively relieves many symptoms of menopause. Previous studies of HRT have shown other benefits as well, such as reduced risks for colon cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Today, 20 to 45 percent of U.S. women between ages 50 and 75 take some form of HRT. Women should talk with their doctor before deciding if HRT is right for them.

For more information about the latest cancer research, call the Cancer Information Service of the Heartland at (800) 4-CANCER.