Hormonal therapy may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer especially in those women, who are not taking hormone anymore.

The results published in journal of Cancer Epidemiology have created more doubts to already existing risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Previous studies have proven higher risk of breast cancer and heart problems, but a reduced risk of colon cancer. Recent studies have said that the age of woman can effect HRT. Such kinds of drug are specially given to those women presenting menopause symptoms.

The most recent studies have also proven that,  the patients taking HTR therapy have lower  risk of colon cancer.

“These data do add additional weight to prior reports suggesting that hormone replacement therapy reduces the risk of colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Neal Meropol, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

But the studies have yet to translate into discoveries that can affect medical practice.

“This particular study emphasize on the complexity of systems that affect tumor formation and opens the passage through which we can recognize that can be precisely target that can be used to treat or prevent colon cancer,” lead researcher added. “These findings raise some basic questions about the causes of colon cancers to develop.

The researchers collected data of 57,000 women on colorectal cancer prevalence and hormone use, which had been followed for 15 years.

The researchers noted a 17 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer in women who were on estrogen alone in the past, a 25 percent reduced risk of colorectal cancer among women currently using estrogen, and a 26 percent reduction in those, using estrogen for last ten years.