Video: New information on HRT cancer risk

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Despite a link between breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy, 57 million prescriptions for HRT are filled each year in the United States.

The current belief is that low-dose formulas for short periods of time are safe, but the evidence continues to mount.

Recent findings from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center show HRT increases the risk of lobular breast cancer by four-fold in as little as three years -- earlier than the five-year period cited by past research.

Lobular breast cancer is known as "sneaky breast cancer."

"Lobular cancers have a very unique growth pattern where they grow as linear strains or sheets of cells, so they're difficult to see on a mammogram and more difficult to feel on a physical exam," said Christopher Li, doctor at Fred Hutchinson.

That's why it is often diagnosed in advanced stages and is hormone-positive.

"We, as a profession, may have gotten women somewhat addicted to estrogen rather than letting them go through the natural process of withdrawal," said John Link, breast oncologist.

Link says women with serious symptoms should consider the lowest dose possible for the shortest time. Then get off -- slowly.

"If you kind of just shut the door, then it really exacerbates and makes the symptoms worse," Link said.

Two years ago, chemotherapy slammed Kriss DuBois right into menopause.

"It was night sweats, which were probably the worst. Hot flashes all day long," DuBois said.

Her symptoms are now gone thanks to low-dose hormone therapy.

"I don't have the night sweats ever and as far as the hot flashes, I rarely will have one," she said.

After two years on low-dose HRT, DuBois isn't ready to give it up yet.

"It's worth it. I'm really not worried. I got cancer when I wasn't on it, so it's just not a question," she said.

The Fred Hutchinson study was one of the largest to focus on the relationship between combined HRT and lobular breast cancer, which accounts for up to 15 percent of breast cancers.

The use of combination hormone replacement therapy has fallen sharply since 2003 after the Women's Health Initiative found that it was linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.