It is of no significance for healthy women taking HRT in their 50s at the time of menopause for 2-5 years for the relief of menopausal symptoms. For women over 60 years on longer term treatment, who have a higher risk of lung cancer (current or ex-smokers), the findings need to be included in the risk to benefit considerations when regularly reviewing the advisability of HRT continuation or not.

There is no indication from this study for stopping HRT used for symptom relief in younger healthy women in their 50s.

For otherwise healthy women under 60 years of age taking combined oestrogen and progestin therapy there is no evidence of increased lung cancer risk or of increased death from lung cancer. Even in those older than 60 there was no evidence or proof of increased risk, only a suggestion more cases occurred in HRT users. For those over 60 years this inconclusive data suggests that there is a 3 in 10,000 increased risk of lung cancer per year in HRT users compared to nonusers. There is a small increased risk of dying from lung cancer in those on HRT compared to non HRT users of around 5 per 10,000 per year.