Estrogen: A Villain And A Possible Savior

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The ultimate goal, of course, is to keep breast cancer from taking hold in the first place, and estrogen will play a role in achieving that. One idea that researchers have begun to test is temporarily suppressing the body's natural estrogen and thus providing birth control along with protection from breast cancer. This could be accomplished by combining an ovulation-stopping drug with tiny doses of female hormones to protect tissues like bone and brain. A pilot study conducted at the University of Southern California in women with a family history of breast cancer showed that such a dosage regimen reduced breast density, making mammograms easier to read. An added benefit: the treatment cut their menstrual cycles to three a year.

--By Shannon Brownlee. Reported by Sora Song/New York