Posted in: Breast Cancer Treatment by Dr. Tarang Krishna Posted Date: 16 Jan, 2020
Several studies have indicated that women with menopausal symptoms have lower levels of estrogen as they go through menopause as compared to the women who do not experience it. Considering the critical role of hormones in the cause of breast cancer, a link between menopausal signs and breast cancer is probable. However, no studies have established a direct association between menopausal symptoms and breast cancer risk.
Symptoms of Menopause
The common signs and symptoms of menopause are listed as below:
- Night sweats and hot flushes
- Vaginal dryness, painful sexual intercourse and decreased sex drive
- Depression, anxiety, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, hair loss, food cravings, fuzzy thinking, irritability and extremely irregular or heavy menstruation
- Bladder control difficulties and recurrent bladder infections
- Osteoporosis, which makes bones weak and fragile
- Sleeping problems also called insomnia
As discussed above, menopause is not a direct cause of cancer but can increase the risk. The risk of developing cancer may largely increase as you age. So, women going through the menopause have a greater chance of developing cancer because they are older. Here are a few things you should know about the association between menopause and breast cancer:
Age: The cancer doctors in India say that the age at which a woman starts to develop menopause largely affects her cancer risk. Starting menopause after age 55 increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer. The reason given for this is the exposure to estrogen. During a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen stimulates the uterus and breast tissue. So, the more menstrual periods a woman has, the longer these tissues are exposed to estrogen.
Increased number of ovulations: One of the main factors which is linked with the risk of cancer after menopause is the increased number of ovulations. Studies suggest that women who start menopause later also have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, possibly because they have had more ovulations.Ovulation happens when the ovary releases the eggs. Women who menstruate for many years have many ovulations, which increases the risk of uterine cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancers. This includes women who start to menstruate at the age of 12 and the women who started menopause after the age of 55.
Weight: Research has shown that gaining weight after menopause can also increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. Studies have looked at the relationship between diet and breast cancer risk and their risk of recurrence. The leading cancer doctors in India suggest various ways to reduce your cancer risk before menopause by regularly exercising, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke, and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Postmenopausal hormone therapy: The postmenopausal hormone therapy which combines estrogen and progesteron to relieve the signs of menopause has been associated with the increased risk of breast cancer when done over an extended period of time. The more years you are in the marinade of hormones, the higher is the risk.
Suggestions to lower the risk of breast cancer: The oncologists and cancer experts suggest that even the small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. For example, one may have terrible hot flushes if you drink coffee before showering but the hot flushes may disappear or may not be nearly as bad if you try drinking coffee after showering.
Some safe and healthy ways to manage menopause symptoms include:
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing stress
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding hot flush triggers like coffee, tea and alcohol
- Quitting smoking
The risks and benefits of cancer between menopause and breast cancer are different for each woman. If you have any symptoms, share your signs and medical history with the leading cancer doctors in India. Ask about options for relieving your symptoms and weigh the associated risks and benefits.
About The Author
Dr. Tarang Krishna
Dr. Tarang Krishna, Director at Cancer Healer Center, is the perfect epitome of perseverance and dedication.
He has an impressive educational background to his credit. He completed his under-graduation in Medicine and Surgery from Pune, India and did his MD (Hom) from Agra University, India.Thesis on MD was on "Treatment of cancer" where he presented cases of almost 100 patients and the response of the medicines in the treatment of cancer. He then completed his Ph.d in Oncology from the United Kingdom and his thesis on the ‘Efficacy of Medicines in the Treatment of Cancer’ is greatly commemorated and honored.
He befittingly represents alternate medicine and has contributed significantly towards the development and research of immunotherapy.
Through his nationwide chain of “Cancer Healer Center” clinics he strives to offer superior cancer treatment, using immunotherapy.
