Hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer : influences on women's choice

Introduction ; Methods ; Defining the menopause and its symptoms ; Menopausal symptoms after treatment for breast cancer ; Studies of HRT and breast cancer patients ; Quality of life issues ; The history of the menopause and HRT ; Balancing risks and benefits ; The meanings of the menopause ; Biomedical perspective on menopause ; Socio-cultural perspective on menopause ; Feminist perspective on menopause ; Media and lay influences on menopause ; The role of the clinical nurse specialist ; Summary ; Conclusions ; Tables ; References

This literature review considers the scientific data relating to the safety of HRT after breast cancer. Additionally, women's understanding of menopause and the influences that affect their choices about HRT are reviewed.