Is hormone replacement therapy-related breast cancer more favorable? A case-control study.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)-related breast cancer may carry a better prognosis since there is no increase in breast cancer deaths. We looked at the prognostic risk factors and outcome inpatients who had ever taken HRT compared to those who had not, in a case control study. Subgroups of recent-users and those using HRT for >5 years were also compared to controls. Tumor size, grade, vascular invasion, lymph node, and estrogen receptor status as well as median Nottingham Prognostic Indicator (NPI) were compared between cases and controls. Absolute survival between ever-users and never-users was compared by life table analysis. There was no difference between all the cases and their controls for the five prognostic factors. NPI in each group was also similar. Absolute survival between ever-users and never-users was not significantly different either (p = 0.678). There was no evidence that HRT-related breast cancer has a more favorable outcome.