Breast Cancer And Menopause Essay

It is estimated that 40,030 deaths from breast cancer (39,620 women, 410 men) are will occur in 2013. Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily since 1989, rates decreased by 3.0% per year in women younger than 50 and by 2.0% per year in women 50 and older between 2005 and 2009. This decline is attributed to prevention, early detection, improved healthcare services and reduced use of MHT.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death of women, secondary only to heart disease. Breast cancer will affect one of every eight women or approximately 12% of the population. In 2016 there are 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer that will be diagnosed as well as 46,000 cases of breast cancer in situ in women. Additionally, there are 2,600 cases of breast cancer that will be found in men. Breast cancer rates have been decreasing since the year 2000. This is thought to be partially due to increased screening measures as well as discontinuing the use of hormone replacement therapy. There was as positive link established between hormone therapy

There has been conflicting research and advice about the safety of hormones with the increase in the aging female population within the last twenty years (National Institute on Aging). Hormone therapy has demonstrated to be the most effective FDA approved medication in the relief of menopausal symptoms, but these benefits must be weighed against serious adverse effects that hormones can cause. Although many women differ in their response to hormone products, MHT has been universally linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, blood clots, and strokes. Concerns about the findings discovered in the clinical and observation trials performed on MHT, have left some doctors and women hesitant in utilizing MHT to combat menopausal

Such findings, all of which relate to hormone-based life events, suggest that breast cancer is somehow affected by prolonged exposure to female sex hormones, such as estrogen. Women with a history of breast cancer in the family are also at greater risk. About five percent of all breast cancers have been attributed to a mutated, or structurally altered, gene known as BRCA1. Mutations in a second gene, BRCA2, contribute significantly to the development of breast cancer in Jewish women. Alcohol, high levels of fat in the diet, and not exercising regularly have also been linked to increased risk for breast cancer (Garber).

Estrogen dominance results from a lack of progesterone in the body. The effects include increased body fat, decreased libido, increased risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer, and infertility.(http://members.aol.com/dearest/december.htm)

Their study also concluded that “mutation carriers born after 1930 had a younger onset of breast and ovarian cancers than carriers born before 1930, which is in line with previous studies among BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers” (Santa Cruz Guindalini et al., 2016). The most common lifestyle risk factors that increase the breast cancer risk among woman born more recently are: changes in reproductive patterns, earlier age of first menstruation, increasing use of oral contraceptives and menopausal hormone therapy, increasing consumption of calorie-dense food and alcohol, physical inactivity, and

Estrogen treatment: Estrogen-related drugs are sometimes used in hormonal therapy of men with prostate cancer. This treatment may cause a slight increase in breast cancer risk. However, this risk is small compared with the benefits of this treatment in slowing the growth of prostate cancer. Men taking high doses of

In recent years, the number of breast cancer cases have declined as a result of early detection and advanced treatment methods as a result of our continuing understand of the disease. Also attributed with the decline of breast cancer incidence rates is the increasing awareness of the disease, anti-smoking campaigns and the decline in use of hormonal therapy. In 2002, the World Health Initiative published a report that indicated that the use of hormonal therapy after menopause was associated with an increased risk of not only breast cancer, but heart diseases as well. Following the report, the incidence rate of breast cancer dropped by 7% from 2002 to 2003.While positive, the number of those affected with the disease, including their families

Mild to moderate hot flashes can be managed with lifestyle modifications, such as avoidance of spicy foods, caffeine or alcohol, engaging in relaxation exercises, layering of light clothing, lowering of the thermostat, and regular exercise. It is not been detyermined if hot flashes are caused by decreasing or changing estrogen levels. The administration of estrogen has been indicated to reduce the incidence of hot flashes. For women with more severe vasomotor symptoms, such as S.B, estrogen therapy (ET) is the primary indication for hormone replacement therapy

HRT has also negative effects. In some women, it predisposes them to cancer with the risk reverting to that of the population after withdrawal. Muscular cramps, bloating, headaches and tenderness are the most common symptoms. Tibolone causes recurrence of breast cancer in women who are ER+ 4.

menopause symptoms in breast cancer- A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 12(8), e0180918. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180918

When most of us think of the benefits of hormone therapy, we think about replacing estrogen in women as they get older and reach the stage of menopause. This type of medical management can help many women overcome and avoid some of the negative effects of getting older while resolving many of the annoying and downright painful symptoms related to reduced and depleted hormone levels as they age.

Earlier oral pills or sub dermal injections were used in HRT but these creams have found their loyal base amongst women and doctors are quite supportive of their use as well.

have a greater risk of developing breast cancer or other cancers as such. Thus, the findings of this

Hormone therapy is very common for women as they reach their menopausal years. There has been much debate as to whether a woman should use hormonal treatment to replace those hormones that her body is not readily producing after menopause. Estrogen is a hormone produced by a woman’s ovaries. It is probably the most discussed and debated hormone. It is also produced in the adrenal glands and fat tissues. Estrogen thickens the lining of the uterus, preparing it for the possibility of implantation of a fertilized egg. In women, estrogen circulates in the bloodstream and binds to estrogen receptors on cells in targeted tissues, affecting not only the breasts and uterus, but also the brain, bone, liver, heart and other tissues. Estrogen causes