public health study

Coffee, Tea, Caffeine and Brain Cancer Risk

The information in this column is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations by the author. Please consult with your physician before making any lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any other concerns regarding your health.

Coffee and tea are widely enjoyed around the world, and both have been the subject of numerous health claims (most of them unproven). Tea, and green tea in particular, has been the focus of extensive research, with many prior studies suggesting that tea may improve cardiovascular health and, to a much lesser extent, may decrease the risk of some cancers. Much of the published research regarding coffee has, on the other hand, been focused on trying to disprove purported links between coffee consumption and a potential increase in the risk of some cancers. (Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of such research has not identified a strong link between moderate coffee consumption and an increased risk of cancer.)

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All Forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase Breast Cancer Risk

One of the most common questions that I am asked is if there are any safe forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women who are experiencing severe symptoms associated with menopause. Since the release of the preliminary results of the pivotal Women’s Health Initiative study, in 2002, which clearly showed that standard combination HRT (containing the two primary female sex hormones) was associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, a number of alternative “safer” forms of HRT have been proposed. These alternative forms of HRT have included transdermal estrogen patches (which are placed on the skin) and other forms of “bioidentical” HRT hormones.

Advocates of transdermal estrogen patches note that the adverse effects of estrogen-based HRT pills on cholesterol, as well as their association with an increased risk of life-threatening blood clots, may be lower with transdermal patches when compared to oral HRT medications.

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