Estrogen hormone replacement therapy helps prevent breast cancer, say scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. It was found to reduce the risk of the disease by nearly 1/4. The results add to growing evidence that the therapy does not increase the risk of cancer. Other studies have shown a link between the use of the therapy and higher morbidity in women, including breast cancer and heart disease. Estrogen therapy is often used by women who have had a hysterectomy to prevent symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes. Scientists studied 7,645 menopausal women over six years. Half used hormone replacement therapy with only estrogen tablets, and the others placebo. According to the results, the first group of women had a 23% lower risk of breast cancer. They are also 63% less threatened by a fatal outcome in the development of the disease than other women, the experts also found. NEWS_MORE_BOX The therapy is thought to help stop tumors from growing. However, it does not protect women with a family history of breast cancer or those who have already experienced benign breast disease. The results are published in The Lancet. It’s important to remember that while there are different types of HRT, other studies have shown that some may increase the risk of breast cancer as well as other health problems, says lead researcher Garnett Anderson. Scientists at the Keck Institute of Medicine at the University of Southern California found that the risk of cancer increased by 83% in women who used combined hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progestin) for a long period of time.