Menopausal Symptoms
Women with breast cancer can safely use vaginal estrogen to treat certain menopausal symptoms.
The latest NAMS statement recommends cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, medicines, and nerve blocks to ease hot flashes and night sweats.
Although vaginal laser treatment seems safe for women with a history of breast cancer, it’s not more effective than a placebo.
Overall, neither systemic nor vaginal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) seemed to increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence (the cancer coming back) in women diagnosed with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive disease. Still, using vaginal HRT slightly increased recurrence risk in women who received an aromatase inhibitor.
Fezolinetant, an experimental medicine that doesn’t contain hormones, has successfully treated hot flashes.
Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer recurrence (the cancer coming back), so women with a history of the disease should not take HRT.
A specific type of online therapy, called internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, can help reduce the toll of hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms caused by breast cancer treatments.
Oxybutynin, a medicine commonly used to treat bladder incontinence, reduced the number and severity of hot flashes in women treated for breast cancer.
Researchers have developed recommendations on managing menopausal symptoms for women who've been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Information from the Women's Health Initiative shows that postmenopausal women who use vaginal estrogen have the same risk of invasive breast cancer and other diseases as women who don't use vaginal estrogen.
Tai chi eases insomnia in breast cancer survivors just as well as cognitive behavioral therapy.
The results of a small study suggest that electroacupuncture can help ease hot flashes as much or more than gabapentin, improving women's sleep quality.
An Italian study offers more evidence that acupuncture can help ease hot flashes.
SSRIs are linked to a higher fracture risk, but the actual number of women who broke a bone is low.
Another analysis of results from the Women's Health Initiative trial has found that the influence of hormone replacement therapy on breast cancer risk changes as time passes.
A study has found that the antidepressant Effexor eased hot flashes just as well as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Early results from a study suggest that testosterone implanted under the skin as a pellet helps ease menopausal symptoms without increasing breast cancer risk.
Two studies suggest that a low dose of the antidepressant medicine Paxil can lower the number and severity of hot flashes in some women.
A study suggests that estrogen-only HRT may reduce breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women who've had a hysterectomy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy may help ease treatment-related hot flashes.
On Sept. 1, 2011 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors and patients that Reclast may cause severe kidney problems.
New research suggests that breast cancer risk is higher in women who use HRT during the first 5 years after menopause starts compared to women who wait more than 5 years to start HRT.
Most family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrician-gynecologist (ob/gyn) doctors recommend gradually stopping HRT over time instead of suddenly stopping it.