Hormone Replacement Therapy After Endometrial Carcinoma
Most women with endometrial cancer learn about it after going through menopause. Some, though, will find out before they experience menopause. For them, treatment that affects the ovaries can lead to the side effects of menopause. The ovaries can be removed during surgery. Or they can be damaged by radiation or chemotherapy.
Side effects of menopause include:
- hot flashes
- sleep disturbances
- mood changes
- vaginal dryness
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help ease side effects. There has been concern, though, that HRT can cause the cancer to come back. In particular, the controversy has involved estrogen replacement therapy.
The concern has been that estrogen may stimulate unrecognized cancer cells. That means it could cause them to grow. Several studies, though, suggest that HRT might be safe for most patients. One large study by the NCI sponsored Gynecologic Oncology Group compared estrogen to placebo in women with early stage endometrial cancer. The researchers found that estrogen did not seem to increase the risk of recurrence. Other findings, though, from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study have challenged the role of HRT for women who are menopausal. You should ask your doctor what the risks and benefits are for you. Your doctor can make recommendations. Your doctor can also explain alternative and hormonal therapies used to improve menopausal symptoms.
