Hormone therapy and breast cancer

Use or nonuse of hormone therapy (HT) is a controversial decision for menopausal women that has taken on increasing significance as the large number of baby boomers enter this life stage. Studies suggest benefits of HT for prevention of osteoporosis and coronary artery disease, as well as a possible increased risk for cancer, particularly breast cancer. Because of this risk for breast cancer, women with a family history may feel differently about HT. However, differences have not been studied. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in attitudes toward HT of menopausal women with and without a family history of breast cancer. A nonexperimental, cross-sectional design was used. The setting included various sites located in a rural community in northwestern Pennsylvania. A convenience sample of 110 was obtained. A Health Belief Model attitudinal scale was completed by the participants. Although there were no significant differences in attitudes toward HT between the groups, ancillary analysis revealed a significant difference (P = .04) in frequency of reported fear of breast cancer regarding HT in those women with a family history of breast cancer and those without such a history. The findings of this study point to a need for further research on attitudes of women regarding HT and how they may affect postmenopausal healthcare management.