Ask Dr. Marie

For the millions of women going through menopause, I don’t think there is anything more confusing than the research and decisions surrounding hormone therapy. As a postmenopausal woman who uses a small dose of hormones, every new study grabs my attention. The latest headline suggests hormones are declared to be safe. Did I miss something? Has there been new research from randomized trials (the best form of research)?

I am committed to sharing with you some of the highlights in medicine and science on a regular basis. I will give you a HEALTHY DOSE of what is on my mind as well. Here are a few headlines that caught my eye this week:

LOW VITAMIN D LEVELS MAY INCREASE RISK OF BREAST CANCER SPREADING AND CANCER DEATH

A small Canadian study of 512 women with breast cancer found that women who were deficient in vitamin D had a greater risk of their cancer spreading and greater risk of death from breast cancer. Many (76%) of the women were vitamin D deficient.

I am committed to sharing with you some of the highlights in medicine and science on a regular basis. Here is one headline that caught my eye this week:

An Ultrasound and Mammogram May Be Better to Detect Breast Cancer in Women who are High Risk

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer and the most feared condition among women. Yet annual mammograms can miss early cancers, especially in women who have dense fibrocystic breasts. Recent guidelines from the American Cancer Society suggest that an annual MRI scan in addition to a mammogram would improve detection of early cancers, but is worth doing only for very high-risk women. The rest of us at average risk (1 in 50 chance at age 50 is considered average risk) would have too many false positive findings on the MRI and would be subjected to anxiety and way too many needless biopsies.