Does the pill cause BREAST CANCER? || Dr Liz O'Riordan

A new study has found that all forms of contraception, including those that only have progesterone, increase your risk of breast cancer by 25%. That's scary, but the actual increase is tiny. When you are 20, your risk is already small - 1 in 1000 women. Breast cancer is mainly a disease of older women - when you are 90, your risk of getting it is 1 in 2.

They found that for women aged 16-20 who used progesterone-only contraception, over the next 15 years, an extra 8 in 100,000 women would get breast cancer. It does NOT mean that if you take the pill you have a 1 in 4 chance of getting it.

If you are concerned about your risk, there are other things you can do to decrease it that have evidence behind them - exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight for your height and cut down the amount of alcohol you drink.

You certainly shouldn't decide to stop contraception based on your future risk of getting breast cancer.

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[KKKaTTT]

what a wonderful channel and well delivered information. all the best

[jamiecallahan]

Dr. O'Riordan, I find your videos very informative and well-presented; however, I wish there was more attention given to women 65 and older since we're more likely to get breast cancer than younger women. I'm 71 years old and I recently discovered several irregular lumps in the upper outer quadrant of my right breast. I don't think they were there several months ago. I know I can't get a diagnosis from youtube videos. I've made an appointment with my gp, whom I can't see for several weeks. It would be helpful to see some videos that addressed breast cancer in senior women. We watch youtube, too!

[BeesKnees]

I want to add my experience for the sake of comparing notes. I'm taking the combined BCP (20 mcg ethinyl estradiol) for the last 28 years nonstop no breaks, for my severe cystic acne. I'm still on it for perimenopause. I'm now 47, no cancer, but I have atypical hyperplasia and intraductal papilloma. I don't drink alcohol or smoke at all. No children. I have extremely dense breasts. The only relative who had breast cancer was my aunt who had it in her 60s. My breast surgeon told me I'm at high risk for breast cancer and gave the choice to have the tissue removed or I will need mammograms every 6 months. I chose the latter. She never told me to stop the pill.

[joannacheong]

I was on BCP for almost 10 years for acne problems. I had good skin when I was on the pill. Then I get married and had 2 kids at 39 and 40. Discovered that I’ve stage 2 BC at 43. Went flat after a failed margin lumpectomy. Had my lymph nodes removed on one side. BC doesn’t run in my family and my genetics test was negative. That’s why I’m leaning towards the notion that the pill cause my BC.

[deannab]

So there's still a risk. And if you are a young woman (under 40) you are much more likely to have agressive cancer. You are a doctor. Telling a woman that her risk only increases slightly is not ok. You should be telling women to avoid anything that increases their risk even a little bit. Young women are more likely to die from breast cancer than older women. It is one of the highest causes of death in women. Wouldn't you want to decrease this risk by any means possible?

[drbus]

Hi Liz, great video! My question is:is local estriol low dose for preventing vaginal atrophie safe for hormone positiv BC patients after treatment under Exemestan( Aromasin)?