How to navigate menopause post-cancer diagnosis.

The text discusses the management of menopausal symptoms after cancer, a growing concern as more women survive cancer treatment and face long-term effects such as premature ovarian insufficiency or early menopause. Menopausal symptoms after cancer treatment can be more severe than natural menopause and can include sexual dysfunction, impaired sleep, mood disturbances, and decreased quality of life. Despite the challenges in diagnosing menopause after cancer due to overlapping symptoms, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is considered effective for managing symptoms for many patients with cancer. In cases where MHT is not suitable, non-pharmacological and non-hormonal treatments are emerging as viable options.

The text highlights the importance of centralized care for managing menopausal symptoms after cancer treatment and the need for cost-effective and patient-focused models of care. It also delves into the impact of cancer treatments on inducing menopause, particularly in premenopausal women, and the necessity of preserving ovarian function before treatment. The use of MHT, non-hormonal therapies, and integrative oncology approaches are discussed in detail, along with the considerations for managing sexual difficulties and genitourinary symptoms post-cancer treatment.

Furthermore, the text addresses the disparities in managing menopausal symptoms in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where underdiagnosis of symptoms and barriers to care contribute to poor health-related quality of life among cancer survivors. The importance of multidisciplinary care, telemedicine, and the need for evidence-based guidelines to support the management of menopausal symptoms after cancer are emphasized. The gaps in research, particularly in understanding menopause and cancer in LGBTQI+ individuals and the lack of reliable predictors for severe menopausal symptoms post-treatment, are also highlighted.

Overall, the text provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and considerations in managing menopausal symptoms after cancer, the available treatments, the need for personalized and inclusive care, and the gaps in evidence and research that need to be addressed to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02802-7/fulltext

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