Thursday, June 3, 197
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Five
ThurdayJune3, 97ttTHE ICHIAN AILYPageFiv
Estrogen linked to
cancer of uterus
BOSTON tP) - Cancer of the uterus has increased dra-
matically in the 1970s, and researchers say it probably re-
stlts from the popular prescription of estrogen to women
going through menopause.
A study to be published today says this form of cancer
increased at least 40 per cent and as much as 150 per cent
among middle-aged women between 1969 and 1973.
ANITHER STUDY being published with it in the New
England Journal of Medicine points to estrogen medication
as the probable reason-.
Estrogen is frequently prescribed to reduce hot flashes,
irritability and depression - all common symptoms of
menopause.
The findings "give evidence for a rapid increase in in
cidence of a magnitude that has rarely been paralleled in
the history of cancer reporting in this country," the auth-
ors of the statisticaistudy said.
DR. NOEL Weiss, the leader of a research team at the
University of Washington in Seattle 'which prepared the
statistical study, said in an interview: "The important point
is that it is unlikely the disease is due to some characteristic
of the women rather than the medicine they are taking."
Use of estrogen to treat menopause has increased rap-
idly he said. Across the United States, the dollar value of
the drug prescribed in 1973 was almost four times higher
than 10 years earlier.
The second study, directed by Dr. Thomas Mack of the
Uniersity of Southern California, concluded that there is
"a high level of statistical significance" to the theory that
=strogen causes uterine cancer.
MACK STUDIED women at a retirement community
near Los Angeles and found that no drug except estrogen
.as associated with the disease.
Other studies published in recent months conclude the
chance of getting uterine cancer is five to seven times
ccater among women who take estrogen during meno-
eMack found that tho risk of cancer was less if women
took the drue in monthly cycles. with intervals of four or
more days when thev used no estrogen at all. But even
when the dose was low, the risk increased-threefold.
"PRUDENCE DTCTOTES that we tentatively assume
the association to be casual and act on that basis," Mack
wrote.
He said that when estrogens are prescribed, "thev
d should be given at the lowest effective dose for the shortest
p sossible time."
Mack foind the hthast risk of the cancer was among
women who married before age 25, have children, are not
f t do not have gall bladder disease, do not use tranquil-
rers and ha- hot floshe and benign breast disease.
TtI Lnwl'ST iSK was among those who are mar-
( "d after 25. are MIhlv educated, have no children, had
menocane after age 50 and take tranquilizers and thyroid
arenaration.s
Some doctors h-e a.nneatod that estronen heins redee
the chance of heart attack in women who have gone through
menonause.
however. a stdv in the same issue of the ionreal found
b no relation between use of estrogen and the risk of nonfatal
Sheart attack.
THAT STUDY WAS directed by Lynn Rosenberg of the
Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program at Boston,
University.
Estrogen is also an ingredient of birth control pills. How-
tever, the pill also contains progestrogens, and doctors be-
lieve this offsets the estrogen's suspected cancer-causing
properties.
Weiss' study was based on unpublished data of popula-
tion-based cancer reporting systems in several areas of the
country for 1969 to 1973. His findings were projected to re-
fleet the rate of uterine cancer for every 100,000 women
House ethics committee to
investigate Hays scandal
WASHINGTON (AP) - The
House ethics committee voted
overwhelmingly Wednesday to
start an immediate investiga-
tion of the Wayne Hays pay-
roll-sex scandal and will invite
him to appear. Elizabeth Ray,
who nays sherwas his mistress.
will be subpoenaed if necessary.
The vote was 11-0, with Rep.
Olin Teague, D-Tex., absent.
HAYS, ALONG with 28 other
congressmen, had asked for the
probe, and Hays has asked to
testify. Chairman John Flynt
Jr., (D-Ga.), said he presumes
Hays will be put under oath.
Asked whether Ray also will
be called as a witness, Flynt
said: "I don't know that Miss
Ray will be the first witness."
He told reporters, "We have
not subpoenaed her, if that's
what you mean." Flynt add-
ed that she would be subpoen-
aed "if necessary."
Before the committee voted,
some members questioned
whether its investigation should
await further action by the
grand jury. "I have an idea
we will ask the Justice Depart-
ment if our procedure might
compromise their investigation,"
Flynt said.
BUT THE SOURCE close to
the grand jury investigation
said: "I'm not sure we would
have any position we would
urge" on the committee about
whether to proceed. "We would
hope they would turn over what-
ever they find," the source de-
clared.
ledindicated that federal in-
vestigators might reciprocate if
there is no prosecution. But if
the Brand isry returns an in-
dictment, the source indicated,
recinrocating might harm the
government's case.
Meanwhile, one of Ray's law-
yers deied yesterday as "ab-
solutelv unt-te" a published re-
port that she has told federal
agents she tame recorded bed-
room intimacy with 13 congress-
men and two senators.
IN A COPYRIGHT story, the
Chicago Tribune said Ray told
federal investigators her tape
recorder was voice activated
and under her bed. The news-
paper said her taping also in-
cluded morning - after phone
talks in which the congressmen
were tricked into discussing love
making.
The Tribune said the record-
ings included:
-"A well known senator whose
pillow talk in Ray's apartment
revolved around the adventures
of his grandchildren.
--"A CONGRESSMAN whose
name is a household word who
talked compulsively while he
was with her.
-- "One House committee
chairman who asked the 33-year-
old woman to submit to bondage
during their liaison." .
The newspaper also said Ray
told the investigators she dated
David Home Kennerly, who is
White House photographer for
President Ford.
KENNERLY SAID be had one
date with Ray about two years
ago. He added: "I'm probably
the only single guy she ever
went out with."
Seymour Feig, a New York
lawyer representing Ray, said
of the Tribune report: "This is
absolutely untrue.
Feig said he had spent the
entre day Wednesday with Ray
and that she also denies the
report "absolutely."
The Tribune said their report-
ers spoke to Ray briefly Wed-
nesday and that she "conirned
that she had spent many hours
testifying before a federal grand
jury about her story."
However, Feig said Ray has
not yetrappeared before the
grand -jury.
the nn arbo il ooperative
TONIGHT!
WOODSTOCK
1970 MICHAEL WADLEIGH
Aftetiosanisofatoe crasisers Osiened tlitscoscret isntoe
show, promsters decided to turn it into an event.Using aoen-
ceptionai visual style. Wadleigh infuses his tim with a con-
sistent and coherent theme, as the music becones a retlector
in its relationship politically and sociologically with the life-
style it embraces. Academy Award, best documentary teature.
The Who; Jse Cocker; Crosby, Stilis, Nash and Young; Jimi
Hendrix; Santana; Sha-Na-Na; Sly and the Family tyoncar Joan
Baez; Ten Years and After; Country Joe and the Fish; Richle
Havens.
AUD A, ANGELL HALL $1.25 6:30 & 9:30
FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1976
Reflections on Healing and
Western Medicine"
GARY RICHWALD
8:00 herb tea 8:30 discussion
Canterbury IHous''e
218 N. DIVISION ST.
CORNER OF CATHERNE AND DIVISION
for information cal 665-0606
I
Potters Guild
Spring Sale
SUNDAY, June 6
9:00-3:00 p.m.
201 Hil Street
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