How Does Menopause Affects Breast Cancer?

Menopause is the period in a female’s life when hormone release levels drop to a point where she stops getting her period (menstruating).

Some treatments for breast cancer can cause treatment-induced menopause. Pending on your age and specific situation, treatment-induced menopause can be permanent, or your hormone levels and monthly cycles can return after treatment is done.

Other breast cancer treatment side effects can mimic menopausal symptoms but don't actually cause menopause.

Symptoms of menopause include:

• headaches
• hot flashes
• mood swings
• depression
• fatigue
• memory loss
• weight changes
• vaginal dryness
• loss of libido
• trouble sleeping

Menopause or menopausal symptoms can be caused by the following breast cancer treatments:

• ovarian shutdown or removal
• chemotherapy:
  • Cytoxan (chemical name: cyclophosphamide)
  • thiotepa (brand name: Thioplex)
• hormonal therapy:
  • Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole) 
  • Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane)
  • Evista (chemical name: raloxifene)
  • Fareston (chemical name: toremifene)
  • Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant)
  • Femara (chemical name: letrozole)
  • tamoxifen

Managing menopause and menopausal symptoms

It's very important to remember that menopause can affect your long-term health, specifically your heart and bone health.

Try the following to ease various menopausal symptoms:

• Place an ice pack on the painful area of your head if you're having headaches. Apply the pack to your forehead, temples, back of the neck, or wherever else it may hurt. Read more tips on how to manage headaches.
• Dress in layers if you’re suffering from hot flashes. This way you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer. Read more tips on managing hot flashes.
• Identify and avoid sources of stress that cause mood swings. Read more tips on managing mood swings.
• Participate in activities that make you feel happy or relaxed to combat depression. Going to a movie, a sporting event, playing music, painting, or volunteering to help others can take your mind off your troubles. Read more tips on easing depression.
• Go to bed at the same time each night if you’re experiencing fatigue. Get up at the same time each morning and don't stay in bed after you wake up. Read more tips on managing fatigue.
• Keep your mind and memory active with word puzzles, reading, and any other activity that makes you think. Read more tips on managing memory loss.
• Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. Load up on fruits, vegetables, beans, omega-3 fatty acids (found in coldwater fish, such as salmon, and olive oil), and calcium. Try to eat smaller portions to avoid over-eating. Read more tips on managing weight changes.
• Use personal lubricants that are water-based to make penetration less uncomfortable if you’re experiencing vaginal dryness. Read more tips on managing vaginal dryness.
• Discuss any changes in sex drive with your partner if you’re experiencing a loss of libido. Share what you're feeling so your partner doesn't feel at fault. Read more tips on managing loss of libido.
• Ask your doctor if sleeping pills might be a good idea if you’re having trouble sleeping. Some people prefer to use acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (one brand name: Advil) to help them get to sleep. Read more tips on managing sleep problems.
• Exercise regularly to help manage stress and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise also can help strengthen your bones and heart, reduce hot flashes, improve sleep quality, boost your energy, and enhance your libido.
• Consider complementary and holistic medicine techniques such as meditation or yoga

Menopause itself is not associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. However, the rates of many cancers, including breast cancer, do increase with age. In addition, some of the drugs used to manage menopausal symptoms may increase or decrease a person's cancer risk.

What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

Certain factors are considered to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. However, having many risk factors does not mean a woman will develop breast cancer, and having no risk factors does not mean she will not develop the disease.

Age is the single-most important risk factor for breast cancer. The chances of developing the disease increase with age. About 95% of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year are over age 40, and about half are age 61 and older.

Personal risk is also greater if an immediate family member (mother, sister, or daughter) has had breast cancer, particularly if it was at an early age. Also, women who have had a breast biopsy (removal of breast tissue) that shows certain types of benign disease, such as atypical hyperplasia, are more likely to get breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Having cancer in one breast (may recur or develop in other)
• Having a history of ovarian, uterine, or colon cancer
• Having a genetic  abnormality in  breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2
• Late menopause (after age 55)
• Starting menstruation early in life (before age 12)
• Having a first child after age 30
• Never having children

Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?

Evidence suggests that the longer a woman is exposed to female hormones (either made by the body, taken as a drug, or delivered by a patch), the more likely she is to develop breast cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy may be given to postmenopausal women who have menopausal symptoms. 

The longer a woman is on HRT with a combination of estrogen and progestin, the greater her chances may be of being diagnosed with breast cancer.  

It is unclear if  HRT with estrogen alone, which is sometimes prescribed for women who have had a hysterectomy, increases the risk of breast cancer.

Can I Prevent Breast Cancer?

While there is no definitive way to prevent breast cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk: 

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be physically active and get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise five or more days per week.
• Eat a healthy diet with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily; limit the amount of processed meat and red meat eaten.
• Women should drink no more than one alcoholic beverage daily (men should drink no more than two alcoholic beverages daily)

How Is Breast Cancer Detected and Diagnosed?

Detection of breast cancer in its early stages -- hopefully before it moves outside the breast -- can significantly improve the chances that treatment will be successful.