HRT may up women's risk of brain tumour by 30 per cent

Women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at a 30 per cent higher risk of developing brain tumours, a new study has claimed.
The risk increases the longer a woman is on the treatment and those who used HRT for ten years or more had a 70 per cent chance of getting a tumour, according to researchers from The Danish Cancer Research Centre.
HRT medications contain female hormones to replace the ones the body no longer makes after menopause. It is used by women to treat menopausal symptoms and protect long-term health.
Researchers said the findings may explain why meningioma - the most common brain tumour - is found more frequently in women, 'The Sun' reported.

It may also explain why cases of the tumour have risen in recent years.
"Long-term HRT use, particularly of combined oestrogen-progestogen, may increase the risk of meningioma," the researchers said.
Women with meningioma also have a higher risk of breast cancer. About 85 per cent of meningiomas are benign but the tumours still cause symptoms including headaches, seizures, loss of balance and hearing loss.
"HRT has risks, so women should try to use the lowest dose for as short as possible," Dr Sarah Hazell, of Cancer Research UK, said.