Breast cancer rates take a nosedive

Good news for women everywhere! After decades of steady increases, the rates of estrogen-dependent breast cancer -- the most common type -- plummeted a whopping 15% in 2003. The rate of all breast cancers in women of every age dropped 7% that same year.

Experts are cautiously pointing to a study that came out in 2002 that named hormone replacement therapy as a risk factor for breast cancer. Many women stopped using HRT -- then the gold standard for relieving symptoms of menopause and thought to prevent heart disease and osteoporosis -- and sales of the drug plummeted by 50% within 6 months.

The theory is that, without estrogen to feed them, tiny cancers in some women failed to developed or even regressed. The news is a hopeful step in better understanding breast cancer, but some experts caution that the disease is tricky, and the explanation may not be so simple.

Still using HRT? For some women, the benefits outweigh the risks. When symptoms of menopause are severe and last more than four years, HRT may still be a prudent choice. The best course of action is making an informed decision with your doctor.