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Managing menopause and more with gynecological cancer

Managing menopause and more with gynecological cancer

With more and more female cancer patients living longer, cancer experts are increasingly focusing on improving patients’ quality of life. For many, this means managing hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and other body changes that most women don’t experience until later in life. This is because for many women, even in their twenties and thirties, gynecological cancer treatments often cause a number of side effects, including menopausal symptoms.

An estimated 89,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with gynecological cancer each year. Gynecological cancer is defined as cancer of the female reproductive system, and includes five main types: ovary, cervix, uterus, vagina, and vulva. The two most common types of gynecological cancer, ovarian and uterine cancer, occur most often in women who have or have been through the menopause, but it can also occur in younger women.

Gynecological cancers and menopause

In fact, research indicates that 30 to 40 percent of all women with cancer of the female reproductive system experience menopause sooner than they would without the disease. “Often, treatment for gynecological cancer causes a woman to enter menopause earlier than usual,” says Dr. John Farley, a gynecological oncologist at our hospital near Phoenix and chief of gynecological oncology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancer treatment in America. ® (CTCA). “This means that you cannot have children and have to deal with the problems associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis, mood swings, depression, impotence, and pain during sex.”

Medically induced amenorrhea caused by cancer treatment can progress more quickly and its side effects can be more severe than natural amenorrhea. Patients who undergo treatment for other types of cancer do not usually experience early menopause as a result. But for many gynecological cancer patients, chemotherapy and radiation therapy often damage the ovaries or they may have surgery to remove one or both ovaries. Menopause occurs when the ovaries no longer produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control the menstrual cycle and ovulation, so damage to or removal of the ovaries often leads to menopause.

Many younger gynecological cancer patients are concerned about the effect of early menopause on their ability to have children after treatment. Several fertility preservation options may be available, so Dr. Farley recommends that patients discuss their concerns and possible solutions with their doctor before treatment.

Dealing with symptoms of menopause

For patients experiencing menopausal symptoms, Dr. Farley offers some tips that can help. To control hot flashes, for example, try cooling fans, lighter mattresses, and lower the thermostat before going to bed. To relieve vaginal dryness and ED, ask your doctor about vaginal estrogen creams, lubricants, or dilators.

Women with gynecological cancer often experience other side effects, such as fatigue, “chemo brain,” neuropathy, a weakened immune system and scarring in the vagina or abdominal cavity, which can lead to sexual dysfunction, says Dr. Farley. These side effects are usually treated when they occur. Once neuropathy begins to develop, for example, doctors can reduce the dose of the chemotherapy drug. Exercise can help reduce symptoms of neuropathy and fatigue, and changes in your diet can help relieve stress and fatigue. “It is always a good idea to exercise and eat a healthy diet and it can help with a number of issues,” says Dr. Farley.

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