The Excretion of Oestrone, Pregnanediol and Pregnanetriol in Breast Cancer Patients

The urinary excretion of oestrone, pregnanediol and pregnanetriol has been determined in a series of postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving no endocrine treatment. The steroid excretion was studied both in relation to the age of the patients as well as in relation to the time elapsed since the last menstrual cycle. The results indicate that after an initial slow decrease from the age of the menopause onward, the excretion of oestrone and pregnanediol increases again. A new maximum was found in the group 10 – 15 years after the menopause. The excretion of pregnanetriol, however, remains relatively constant after a more rapid fall during the first few years after the menopause.