According to latest findings, among women who are more than 50 years of age and use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that combines estrogen and progestin the risk of developing lung cancer increases.

According to researchers the risk is dependent on the duration of taking the therapy. Women taking HRT for more than 10 years are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Chris Slatore, principal investigator and an assistant professor of medicine in the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a member of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute said, "HRT use has declined and is not recommended except for short-term treatment of menopausal symptoms. Our results indicate millions of women may remain at risk of developing lung cancer.”

A data collected from 2000 to 2002 in the Vitamins and Lifestyle Study in Washington state was reviewed by Slatore and colleagues for the study.

About 36,588 peri- and postmenopausal women who were more than 50 years of age were followed for about six years after ensuring that they met their criteria. Seattle-Puget Sound Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry was used.

About 344 of the participants had developed lung cancer by the end of the study.

And it was concluded that using estrogen and progestin for more than 10 years was linked with increased risk for lung cancer.