Life with breast cancer can bring more challenges than we ever expect, even after the cancer is gone and you move on to prevention steps. Although hormonal treatments are highly effective in helping those with breast cancer avoid it in the future, some women feel that the side effects these treatments bring can be difficult to cope with.
Many of the side effects that come with hormonal treatment options for breast cancer have a shared theme for women–aging. From changes in our bones and skin to changes in our reproductive health, breast cancer treatments change our bodies.
Let’s explore endocrine therapy and its side effects in more detail.
Hormonal Breast Cancer Treatments and Aging: Exploring the Pros and Cons
Endocrine therapy is a highly effective treatment to decrease the risk of recurrence for estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. In most cases, women will continue to use these prevention methods for up to ten years after the treatment of breast cancer. To decide whether this treatment is right for you, it helps to know what to expect.
What benefits and drawbacks exist with these medications?
What Are the Pros of Endocrine Therapy for Managing Breast Cancer?
Choosing endocrine therapy for managing certain types of breast cancer is highly recommended in many cases. The benefits are clear–endocrine therapy works, and it works very well for many women. In fact, it can even play a key role in helping to protect you against breast cancer recurrence for twenty years or more.
There are multiple options available, including tamoxifen and arimidex. Each medication brings its own unique benefits, making it possible for women and their physicians to find a medication that works for them, whether they are at a low risk or high risk for problems in the future (recurrence).
Some Benefits of Endocrine Therapy Include:
- Cancer prevention or decrease the risk of recurrence
- Ongoing support, even after the medication is discontinued
- Stopping or slowing the growth of tumors
What Are the Cons of Endocrine Therapy for Managing Breast Cancer?
Endocrine therapy is a beneficial option, but like many medications, it does come with side effects. More than 18% of premenopausal women do not embrace these therapies as prescribed, with a majority discontinuing use completely despite the benefits they may offer.
Some Drawbacks of Endocrine Therapy Include:
- Menopausal side effects, including hot flashes and challenges with intimacy
- Physical side effects, including cataracts and osteoporosis
- Visible side effects, including aging skin and hair loss
Although these side effects can be challenging to deal with, it is important to remember that there are ways to manage these problems. Speak with your physician, with the right strategy, you can manage your symptoms and continue to gain the benefits of using endocrine treatments over time. There are many beneficial solutions, including cognitive therapy, clonidine, coconut oil, vaginal estrogen, ovarian stimulation, beauty treatments, and more.
Is Hormone Therapy Right for You? Only You Can Decide!
The decision to use endocrine therapy is a complex decision that you must make with your physician. The best thing you can do is take time to educate yourself on the benefits and what to expect. Remember, there are solutions that can help you navigate unpleasant side effects–and they keep improving with time!
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