Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Breast cancer is increasing worldwide and affects up to one in eight women who survive up to the age of 85 years in Western countries. Four out of five new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women over 50 years, with the peak in the 50–64 years age range. The survival rate of breast cancer patients has significantly increased due to earlier diagnosis and advances in adjuvant treatment: at 5 years after initial diagnosis around 90% of the patients survive in good health conditions. There are now more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors (BCSs) in the USa. Menopausal symptoms are common among BCSs and can adversely affect Quality of Life and sexual health. Because a wide range of possible treatments is now available for BCSs, menopause after breast cancer should no longer be considered an unsolved problem but an interesting area of further clinical research.