Attitudes and practices of Korean gynecologists towards hormone replacement therapy in endometrial cancer survivors

Purpose: To investigate the attitudes of Korean gynecologists towards prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after treatment for endometrial cancer.

Materials and Methods: A questionnaire, addressing attitudes towards HRT and treatment strategies for patients previously treated for endometrial cancer, was distributed to 163 Korean gynecologists.

Results: Of the 163 gynecologists that were sent this questionnaire, 98 (60.1 %) responded. Among the respondents, 81 (82.7%) had previously prescribed HRT to patients with endometrial cancer. Of the latter, 75 (92.6%) had prescribed HRT to patients with Stage I, and more than half to patients with Stage II, endometrial cancer. Of the respondents who had prescribed HRT, 33 (40.7%) did so without regard for cancer-cell type and 33 (40.7%) began patients on HRT more than two years after endometrial cancer treatment. Tibolone was the most commonly prescribed drug (61.9%). The most common reason not to prescribe HRT was fear of cancer recurrence (38.1%).

Conclusion: Most of the Korean gynecologists surveyed had experience prescribing HRT to endometrial cancer patients. Although HRT is not actively recommended, HRT given post-therapy to endometrial cancer patients is considered acceptable.