[Hormonal replacement therapy in menopause and cancer risk. An update].

The risk of breast cancer rises by about 2.3% per year of using estrogens and the risk is even higher in the case of combined therapy with estrogens and progestins; however the excess risk disappears 5 years after suspension of the treatment. The risk of endometrial tumour cancer is strongly associated with the use of estrogens but this increase is reduced or eliminated by the administration of progestinics for at least 12/14 days per month. The use of HRTs also seems to be directly associated with the risk of ovarian cancers, while they seem to exert a protective effect on colorectal neoplasms. The HRTs has favourable effects on bone metabolims, but they increase the risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.