TLDR Managing side effects of endocrine therapy is crucial to improve adherence and survival in breast cancer patients.
Endocrine therapy (ET) is crucial for treating hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer but leads to significant side effects due to estrogen deprivation, impacting patients' quality of life and treatment adherence. Common side effects include vasomotor symptoms, musculoskeletal disorders, genitourinary syndrome, fatigue, psychological disorders, ocular toxicity, dysmetabolic effects, and bone density loss. Alopecia affects up to 9% of patients on tamoxifen and 2.5% on aromatase inhibitors, with minoxidil being effective for management. The review emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, to manage these adverse events. It also notes that testosterone and omega-3 fatty acids may alleviate some symptoms but not joint pain from aromatase inhibitors. The POSITIVE trial indicates that temporary ET suspension for pregnancy is safe, and lifestyle interventions are recommended for managing side effects, as effective pharmacological solutions are limited.
March 2023 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Low-dose oral minoxidil improved hair growth when topical treatments failed.
67 citations,
April 2018 in “JAMA Dermatology” Hair loss from hormone therapy in breast cancer patients can be improved with minoxidil treatment.
48 citations,
September 2013 in “Oncologist” Endocrine therapies for cancer significantly increase the risk of hair loss.
397 citations,
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January 2023 in “Mastology” Hormone therapy for breast cancer often leads to sexual issues like vaginal dryness and decreased libido.
20 citations,
April 2021 in “Journal of Womens Health” Testosterone can help premenopausal and postmenopausal women with low sexual desire, but its long-term safety is unclear and it's not widely approved for this use.
17 citations,
November 2000 in “Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association” The document concludes that low-dose oral contraceptives and hormonal therapies can manage perimenopause symptoms and reduce some health risks, but lifestyle changes and disease screening are also important.
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12 citations,
December 2012 in “Current Drug Targets” The Androgen Receptor could be a target for treating diseases like cancer, but more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of potential treatments.
