Starting HRT early raises breast cancer risk: study

WASHINGTON - Women who start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as they begin to go through menopause have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who start taking the drugs later, researchers reported on Friday.

The findings, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, help answer lingering questions about just who is and who is not at greater risk of side-effects from taking HRT.

The study of more than 1 million British women showed that those who waited five years or more to take HRT had little or no increased risk of breast cancer. But those who started it as they entered menopause had a 43% higher risk.

"In this large study, we found greater risks of breast cancer if hormonal therapy use began either before or soon after menopause than after a longer gap," Dr. Valerie Beral of Britain's Oxford University and colleagues wrote.

"And this pattern of risk was seen across different types of hormonal therapy, among women who used hormonal therapy for either short of long durations, and also in lean and in overweight and obese women."

The findings match those of the US-based Women's Health Initiative, which found women who took HRT right at menopause had a 41% higher risk of breast cancer than those who waited, said Dr. Rowan Chlebowski of the Los Angeles BioMedical Research Institute and Garnet Anderson of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

But, in a commentary on the findings, Chlebowski and Anderson pointed out that the opposite is true of heart disease -- women who start HRT earlier have a lower risk than women who start later.

Before 2002, doctors widely prescribed hormone replacement therapy to lower the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, both of which go up sharply after menopause, as well as annoying symptoms such as hot flashes.

But the Women's Health Initiative study found HRT raised the risk of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer. Sales of HRT plummeted, especially Wyeth's estrogen-progestin Prempro pills, which have fallen by about 50% since 2001 to around $1 billion a year. Wyeth is now owned by Pfizer.

In 2001, more than 16 million US women took some form of HRT pill, but by 2009 only 6 million did.

Doctors noted that the Women's Health Initiative study involved women whose average age was 63, who took relatively high-dose Prempro pills and who were mostly overweight.

No one was sure what would happen for younger, healthier women taking different formulations.

Beral's team confirmed that no matter which formulation, younger women using HRT raised their risk of breast cancer, but this risk disappeared almost as soon as they stopped.

The overall risk of breast cancer remains low in either group -- less than 1% a year.

Other studies have also shown that breast cancer rates fell as soon as women stopped using HRT. A study from Canada last September found breast cancer rates among older women fell 10% after 2002.

Chelbowski's team reported last October that women who took hormone replacement pills had more advanced breast cancers and were more likely to die from them than women who took a dummy pill. (report from Maggie Fox, Reuters)

Assumption College bomb threat a hoax

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - The bomb threat received by the Assumption College in Makati is a hoax, Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio said.

Students of the Assumption College in Makati have been sent home early on Monday after receiving a bomb threat.

A bomb squad had combed the area to check if the threat was real. It was supposedly received at around 9:00 a.m.

ABS-CBN Business Correspondent Maiki Oreta said: “My daughter is in kindergarten there. This morning we've received texts from parents, [it] was also confirmed by a friend of ours from the college department that around 9am this morning they received a bomb threat at the College Department.”

There have been rumors that Ateneo, Mapua and Miriam College also received bomb threats.

An Ateneo media officer denied the news.

The bomb threat comes less than a week after the bus blast in EDSA Avenue in Buendia that killed 5 people and hurt 13 more. (report from abs-cbnNEWS.com)

Report: Bomb threat prompts class suspension in Makati school

An alleged bomb scare prompted the suspension of classes at a private school in Makati City on Monday morning.

Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported that students at the elementary, high school and college levels of the school were instructed to go home.

The report quoted Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio as saying they received the bomb threat as early as Sunday night.

On the other hand, the dzBB report said the school's Office of Student Affairs said the students were sent home "for security reasons."

As of Monday morning, rescue patrols by San Lorenzo village, K-9 units, and a fire truck were deployed to the areas around the school.

No one among the students was seen panicking, the report added. (report from VVP, GMANews.TV)

Indonesian pop star goes on trial for sex tapes

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The trial has opened for an Indonesian pop star who faces possible jail time for making homemade sex videos that found their way onto the Internet — rocking this predominantly Muslim nation.

Singer Nazril "Ariel" Irham has been charged with violating the country's strict anti-pornography law. He faces a maximum of 12 years behind bars and a fine of $600,000.

The 29-year-old said the videos made with two celebrity girlfriends in the privacy of his home were stolen and posted online.

The courtroom was packed with supporters Monday. Outside, hundreds of hard-line Muslims held placards demanding Irham face the maximum penalty. (report from AP / GMANews.tv)

Meet the Faces of KaJoyfulness Episode 6

The 6th Episode of "Meet the Faces of KaJoyfulness" featuring the "Talent Update" segment with Ginalyn Salazar, Ivy Purisima Momo and Shirley Sombilon.