The risk of death from lung cancer is increased by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using oestrogen and progestin. Data was analyzed from a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, which also looked at the use of combined HRT in post-menopausal women. This trial was eliminated in 2002 as it discovered that women on HRT had a higher risk of blood clots, heart disease, and stroke and breast cancer.

A study involving 16,000 women concluded that women taking HRT were more likely to face fatal consequences than the ones on a dummy placebo pill.

They also showed that women taking HRT are not likely to develop cancer anymore but if they do they have a higher chance of dying.

Dr Apar Kishor Ganti, from the University of Nebraska Medical Centre said, 'These results, along with the findings showing no protection against coronary heart disease, seriously question whether HRT has any role in medicine today'.

He said that women who are at a higher risk of lung cancer should avoid the use of HRT and the ones who smoke should specially keep a guard.

These researchers were challenged by the British experts who thought that these findings might not be relevant and also added that lung cancer rates are very low.

Another Professor Karol Sikora said that women look and feel better with HRT so they want to continue taking HRT.