After about a decade of study, researchers worldwide have found the link between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer.

What actually is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

Administration of exogenous hormones to replace those that the body is unable to produce; HRT most often refers to the replacement of estrogen and progesterone following menopause.

The chances of getting breast cancer are high for those women who are on hormone replacement therapy and contraceptives. The scientists conducting the study also said that they have found out the reason behind it.

According to them, the hormones in these drugs have the potential to activate the protein that affects breast cells in a way that they turn cancerous ultimately. However, the experiments have been done on mice and are yet to be confirmed on humans.

The research result also confirms that the chance of procuring breast cancer is one in eight women in Europe, UK and USA. The outcome of the research created a kind of fear among patients who need the hormone therapy and on those who are already in the therapy.

 However the death rates from breast cancer can come down with early detection and constant advancements in treatment. Each patient's treatment and prognosis can differ radically depending on her type of breast cancer, how advanced it is and a variety of other factors.