Menopausal symptoms emerging during hormonal therapy of breast cancer, and their treatment

Hormonal compounds play an important role in the treatment of breast cancer. Their side effects may lead to suspension of therapy and consequently to the failure of the expected effect. Common and the same way most prevalent side effects of hormonal compounds are the menopausal complaints which can alter quality of life significantly. The early recognition and treatment of menopausal complaints and symptoms help to reach therapeutic success. In general, of menopausal related complaints the role of hot flash, atrophic vaginitis and sexual dysfunction is emphasized. Within the topic, it is possible to mention some musculo-skeletal complaints according to their similar etiology, the failure of estrogen effect. In the treatment of hot flash non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic methods can be distinguished. Based on meta-analyses anti-depressants, some anti-convulsants and clonidine proved to be effective. Musculo-skeletal complaints explained by the lack of estrogen effect do not cause permanent impairment but may indicate greater efficacy of endocrine treatment. In the context of osteoporosis it is important to emphasize prevention. The main goal of endocrine therapies is to ameliorate remission rate or survival, but we should not forget to treat side effects which can influence quality of life.