Dr. Rogerio Lobo , Willard C. Rappleye Professor and chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia, says news articles on HRT typically lack balanced coverage, reporting on a single study or a single point of view. Reports associating long-term HRT with an increased chance of breast cancer often discourage women who could benefit from this treatment. However, few articles mention that lung cancer, not breast cancer, is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. It's not an incentive to start or continue therapy. It seems like they always choose to report the sensational, the negative, which is a great disservice.
People stop using things because of fear.
Many reporters apparently are unable to sift the important facts from the data they are supplied. Press releases issued by drug manufacturers often contain information that doesn't make it into published reports. For example, news articles about tamoxifen regularly mention that long-term use can double a woman's risk of endometrial cancer. Depending on her family medical history, a woman might be willing to consider treatment if she were clearer about the odds. Scientifically, we don't have all the answers.