Medications, Health History and Cancer Risk

DES was the first synthetic estrogen and was given to pregnant women from 1938-1971 to prevent miscarriages. It was found to cause health issues for the women who took DES and for the children born of these pregnancies (called DES daughters, DES sons).

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was commonly prescribed for menopausal women to reduce hot flashes, vaginal dryness and risk of bone fractures and heart disease. In July 2002, a large study found that HRT was doing more harm than good, causing breast cancer, heart disease and strokes.

Some parts of a woman’s health history can mean that her risk of developing breast cancer is higher. For most women, these are not factors that can be changed, but many women want to know about risks that may exist.

Atypical hyperplasia is an abnormal overgrowth of cells in the breast tissue. It is not cancer, but increases the risk of breast cancer in the future.

People who have had solid organ transplants (lung, heart, liver, kidney) have a higher risk of developing cancer due to immunosuppressive medications used to prevent rejection, infection with viruses known to cause cancer (HPV, Epstein Barr, H. Pylori), and other health issues.

Birth control pills (BCPs) have been found to cause a small increase in breast and cervical cancer risk and a decreased risk of endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancers.

There are several non-cancerous conditions that may be treated with radiation and this treatment carries a cancer risk.