Cancer patients who experience early-onset menopause after treatment can control their symptoms with lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, and non-estrogen-based therapies, according to an expert at a recent conference.
Also, while there are several ways to approach symptom relief, it’s important to be aware of which route a patient takes, especially if it’s something not provided by a doctor.
“I know a lot of people don’t like to take medication, so you can start with non-medical treatments,” said Dr. Deborah Kwolek, an internal medicine physician, women’s health specialist and menopause specialist at Washington General Hospital. Massachusetts at Harvard Medical School. in Boston, during a presentation at the 13th Annual Conference Joining Forces Against Hereditary Cancer. “But be very careful about anything you order online. If you’ve been told you can’t take hormones, again be careful because (something you buy) may have some hormonal activity. So be careful with that.”
Menopause, or the loss of regular ovarian function resulting in low estrogen levels, occurs naturally in all women due to age, although patients who have undergone surgeries or medical treatments that affect the ovaries may experience menopause. early onset.
One of the most common menopausal symptoms is hot flashes, but women may also experience bone loss, increased heart risks, sleep and mood problems, weight gain, or genital and bladder problems. Many doctors treat these symptoms by addressing their root cause, a lack of naturally produced estrogen in a woman’s body, but many cancer survivors may not take hormone therapy because of their medical history or current medications.
While some systemic estrogen therapies can be used safely under a doctor’s recommendation, topical estrogen (hormones taken through a cream on the skin rather than by taking an oral medication) may pose less of a risk for cancer survivors.
lifestyle management
Many general lifestyle changes can help control menopausal symptoms without using estrogen treatments. Patients are encouraged to increase their exercise, eat a plant-based diet, and limit alcohol consumption. In general, managing stress and finding time with friends and loved ones has also been shown to help alleviate symptoms of depression and sleep problems without medical intervention.
To potentially reduce heart risks, patients are advised to monitor diet and activity, but patients who have high blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes should be especially careful about heart health. Smokers or those with a family history of heart problems should also be careful. Taking aspirin or statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) regularly can also reduce the risk of heart problems, although patients should discuss this with their health care providers.
Mood disorders
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are medications traditionally designed to treat clinical depression and other mood disorders, which may be effective in controlling depressive symptoms in menopausal patients, but have also helped women women control hot flashes and night sweats, according to the presentation. . Kwolek specifically recommended Effexor (venlafaxine) as an SSRI that she often prescribes, as well as Lexapro (escitalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline).
“Sometimes if a medication is too strong for you, some women complain and say, ‘It made me feel like a zombie,’” Kwolek said. “Most likely you took too high a dose, or it could be that you took too low a dose and taking it a little higher would have given you a really good effect. (If) you’re like a zombie, it’s usually too high a dose.”
If a drug doesn’t work for a patient, there may be other options, depending on the presentation.
“If one of these medications doesn’t work for you, you can often switch,” he explained. “These are all kinds of what we call sister drugs or sister drugs. They are very similar to each other, but not exactly the same.”
Patients who have been treated with Soltamox (tamoxifen), an estrogen modulator used in breast cancer treatments, should be careful about which SSRIs they are prescribed, as the drugs can negatively interact with each other.
sexual health symptoms
Many women experience genitourinary problems in addition to menopausal symptoms. Topical estrogen is effective, Kwolek said, but keeping the genitals lubricated and hydrated can help patients manage overall sexual health. Kwolek also suggests doing Kegel exercises and other pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the vaginal muscles and reduce symptoms.
While sexual health problems include physical pain and incontinence, there are many psychological symptoms; cancer survivors routinely deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and body dysmorphia (body image) in relation to treatment and post-menopausal symptoms.
“I just want to encourage you, make sure you have a very knowledgeable doctor who can talk to you about these things and refer you to sex therapy if you need it,” Kwolek said. “This is really important, a very important part of your health. So please don’t let this go unresolved.”
He also emphasized the importance of self-advocacy during this time in a patient’s life.
“Make sure that you… are advocating for yourself, that you have the right information, and that all of your providers are talking to each other about what treatments you can take and how to deal with all the symptoms that come with menopause. Kwolek said.
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Source: news.google.com