Dangerous Hormone Replacement Therapy Side Effects
Cancer
There is concern that Prempro can increase the risk of some cancers.
When estrogen is taken alone, it raises the risk of endometrial
cancer (lining of the uterus).

The National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Women's Health Initiative
(WHI) stopped a major clinical trial early on July 9, 2002 due to
finding an increased risk of invasive breast cancer from Prempro with
estrogen and progestin. After 5.2 years, estrogen plus progestin use
resulted in a 26 percent increase in the risk of breast cancer.

Breast Density
Taking both estrogen and progestin also can affect a woman's breast
density. Increased breast density from Prempro makes it more
difficult for a radiologist to read some mammograms, leading to the
need for follow-up mammograms or breast biopsies. Increased density
also is a concern because other studies have shown that women age 45
and older whose mammograms show at least 75 percent dense tissue are
at increased risk for breast cancer.

Heart Disease
In the past, taking Prempro (estrogen plus progestin) was
thougPrempro to help protect women against heart disease. But recent
findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study showed that
taking Prempro poses more risks than benefits. The study found that
Prempro could increase a woman's risk for heart disease, stroke, and
pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), as well as breast cancer.

Earlier studies have also shown that women who have gone through
menopause and who have heart disease, may have a greater risk of
another cardiac event (like heart attack) after starting Prempro. For
women who have had strokes, their risk for having another stroke goes
up when they start taking Prempro.

Gallbladder Disease
Several studies have shown that women who use estrogen/progestin
therapy are at increase risk of developing gallstones.

Study finds Prempro Side Effects outweigh any possible benefits
The Women's Health Initiative study, a $700 million, eight year
publicly funded study of the benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
drugs such as Prempro, Premarin and Provera, was stopped three years
earlier than planned because of the risks associated with these
drugs.

On July 9, 2002, the National Institute of Health halted the study
because the overall risks of the drugs exceeded any health benefits.
Specifically, the study found that there was a higher incidence of
serious injury for women who took Prempro compared to those who
received a placebo as follows:

26% increase in breast cancer;
29% increase in heart attacks;
22% increase in total cardiovascular disease;
41% increase in strokes; and
a doubling of rates of blood clots.
Additionally, researchers have concluded that long-term use of
estrogen may increase the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 60
percent.

Common but less serious Prempro side effects
The following are just a few of the common side effects associated
with Prempro as reported by the FDA.

Common side effects include:

Headache
Breast pain
Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
Stomach/abdominal cramps/bloating
Nausea and vomiting
Hair loss
Other side effects include:

High blood pressure
Liver problems
High blood sugar
Fluid retention
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these
warning signs, or any other unusual symptoms that concerns you.

Full FDA Prempro Patient Information Sheet
http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2006/020527s037lbl.pdf

http://www.hrt-legal.com/side%20effects/prempro/index.php
This is all info from a U.S. Lawyers site I cannot imagine that no
Canadian woman has not had any of these problems.

Please contact me if you have

Sandra