Wash. State Woman Blames HRT, Pharmaceutical Companies for Breast Cancer

SEATTLE - A Washington state woman is suing Wyeth Corp. and Pfizer Inc. for fraud, saying she was never warned that hormone replacement therapy increased her risk of breast cancer and other illnesses. Chandler v. Greenstone Ltd., et al., No. CV04-1300L (W.D. Wash.).

Mary Chandler said in an amended complaint filed on June 1 that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. For 15 years prior to the diagnosis, Chandler says she ingested the hormone therapy drugs Medroxyprogesterone (progesterone) and Premarin (estrogen).

She sued Greenstone Ltd., a manufacturer of medroxyprogesterone, Greenstone's former parent company, Pharmacia & Ujohn Co., Pfizer, …