How does adjuvant chemotherapy affect menopausal symptoms, sexual function, and quality of life after breast cancer?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and menopausal symptoms, sexual function, and quality of life. METHODS: Participants attended a menopause clinic with a dedicated service for cancer survivors at a large tertiary women's hospital. Information about breast cancer treatments including adjuvant chemotherapy was collected from medical records. Menopausal symptoms were recorded with the Greene Climacteric Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, Breast Cancer, and Endocrine Symptom Subscales. Sexual symptoms were recorded using Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire. Quality of life was measured with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scales. RESULTS: The severity of vasomotor, psychological, or sexual symptoms (apart from pain) did not differ between those who had received adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 339) and other breast cancer survivors (n = 465). After adjustment for current age, time since menopause, and current use of antiestrogen endocrine therapy, the risk of "severe pain" with sexual intercourse was twice as common after chemotherapy (31.6% vs 20.0%, odds ratio [OR] 2.18, 95% CI 1.25-3.79). Those treated with chemotherapy were more likely to report "severe problems" with physical well-being (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.12-3.28) and lower breast cancer-specific quality of life (OR 1.89 95% CI 1.13-3.18), but did not differ in other quality of life measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this large study of breast cancer patients presenting to a specialty menopause clinic, previous chemotherapy was not associated with current vasomotor or psychological symptoms. Severe pain with intercourse was significantly more common in those treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Nature and severity of menopausal symptoms and their impact on quality of life and sexual function in cancer survivors compared with women without a cancer history.

OBJECTIVE: After cancer treatment, troublesome menopausal symptoms are common but poorly understood. Using standardized instruments, we measured differences in symptom nature, severity, impact on quality of life, and sexual function between cancer survivors and noncancer participants. METHODS: The Menopause Symptoms After Cancer Clinic operates within the general menopause service in a large women's hospital, providing menopause advice and management to women with menopausal symptoms and a cancer history. Menopausal symptoms were recorded using the Greene Climacteric Scale, past-week symptoms were recorded using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy breast cancer subscale and endocrine symptom subscale, and sexual symptoms were recorded using Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: Cancer survivors (n = 934) and noncancer participants (n = 155) did not significantly differ by age at menopause (46 y) or age at first clinic visit (51 y). Cancer survivors were more likely than noncancer participants to be severely troubled by vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats; odds ratio, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.06-2.74) and reported more frequent (6.0 vs 3.1 in 24 h; P < 0.001) and more severe (P = 0.008) hot flushes. In contrast, cancer survivors were significantly less troubled by psychological and somatic symptoms and reported better quality of life than noncancer participants. Groups did not differ significantly in physical or functional well-being, gynecologic symptom severity, or sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer survivors are more troubled by vasomotor symptoms than noncancer participants, but noncancer participants report greater psychological symptoms. Sexual function does not differ. An improved understanding of the nature and impact of menopause on cancer survivors can be used to direct management protocols.

The multidisciplinary management of menopausal symptoms after breast cancer: a unique model of care.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe a unique model of multidisciplinary care for women with menopausal symptoms after breast cancer and present preliminary data for 653 women. METHODS: The nature and severity of menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer were measured using a standardized scale. RESULTS: A total of 578 women with breast cancer were managed at the Menopausal Symptoms After Cancer Clinic between January 2003 and December 2008. The most common reasons for these women to seek treatment were hot flushes (41%), night sweats (36%), loss of interest in sex (30%), difficulty sleeping (25%), and fatigue (22%). Extreme vaginal dryness was also reported in 19% of these women. Chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure was reported by 29% of the breast cancer patients seen. A range of management approaches were offered, with 55% of the women prescribed nonhormonal pharmacological therapies for vasomotor symptoms, including vitamin E 400 IU twice daily (21%), venlafaxine 75 mg CR once daily (13%), clonidine 50 microg twice daily (11%), or gabapentin 300 mg three times daily (4%). CONCLUSIONS: Vasomotor symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and sleep disturbance are the most distressing menopausal symptoms requiring management after breast cancer. Menopausal symptom management after breast cancer may be complex, and we present a novel model of care using a multidisciplinary approach. Additional benefits of this multidisciplinary approach include education opportunities, improved communication and networking opportunities, and decision making in line with evidence-based guidelines.