PR campaign underplays HRT cancer risks, critics say

Campaign funded by treatment manufacturer could mislead women before official menopause guidance is released, some scientists fear

A PR campaign to promote the use of hormone replacement therapy in women is under way before official guidance on how to treat the menopause is released, causing some scientists concern that the cancer dangers of the drugs will be underplayed.

The campaign, run by the Weber Shandwick agency and funded by a drug manufacturer that provides the treatment, has already put out a survey saying women are unnecessarily worried about the risks of HRT. It is preparing a further release about the attitudes of GPs to prescribing the drugs.