Management of complications from estrogen deprivation in breast cancer patients

Curr Oncol Rep. 2009 Jan;11(1):29-36. doi: 10.1007/s11912-009-0006-6.

Abstract

In the United States today, more than 2 million women live as breast cancer survivors. As the number of cancer survivors grows, the unique long-term side effects of cancer treatment and aging play an increasingly prominent role in the routine care of these patients. Of special concern are the short- and long-term effects of sex hormone deprivation. This article reviews current issues surrounding the acute and late effects associated with hormone deprivation in breast cancer survivors and summarizes the scientific and therapeutic discoveries to date to identify optimal nonestrogenic treatments for symptom control in individual patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Estrogen Antagonists / adverse effects*
  • Estrogens / metabolism*
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology / methods
  • Quality of Life
  • Research Design
  • Testosterone / pharmacology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Gain

Substances

  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Estrogens
  • Testosterone