Recommendations for Women Entering Early Menopause Due to Chemotherapy

Many women are diagnosed with breast cancer before entering menopause.

According to recent research, there is a relationship between cancer treatment and menopause, although studies are still ongoing. Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal, a Medical Oncology Specialist at Anadolu Health Center, stated, "A study investigating the side effects of chemotherapy and changes in quality of life was presented at the European Oncology Society Meeting. This study reported that approximately 50% of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer entered menopause within a four-year follow-up period, experiencing cessation of menstruation." Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal provided important recommendations regarding this issue...

In a study involving 12,000 patients presented at the European Oncology Society Meeting held in Paris, 1,676 patients under the age of 50, who had not entered menopause when diagnosed with breast cancer and had received chemotherapy, were included. These patients had an average age of 42. About 91% of them received chemotherapy, and 75% underwent hormone therapy.

Changes in Regular Menstrual Cycles After Chemotherapy Depend on Age

According to the results of the research, patients who received chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer entered menopause by the end of the first year, with their periods stopping. The study reported that the percentage of patients who entered menopause one year after chemotherapy was 83%, while this rate dropped to 58% for 745 patients who completed a four-year follow-up. Additionally, the study shows that women whose periods stopped after chemotherapy saw their menstrual cycles return to normal within 1 or 2 years. Age plays a significant role in the return of the menstrual cycle. In patients younger than 34, periods returned in 45% of cases by the end of the first year, while only 7% of patients over 40 experienced the return of their periods. By the end of the fourth year, 78% of patients under 34 had their periods return, while only 26% of those over 40 experienced the same.

Chemotherapy Type and Patient’s Condition Affect Menstrual Cycles

Chemotherapy administered at an older age and the type of chemotherapy given affect the patient’s likelihood of entering menopause. The report also observed that being underweight can prevent the return of the menstrual cycle. Another noteworthy finding in this study was that women who did not experience the return of their periods had a significantly reduced quality of life. These patients exhibited issues such as attention deficit, concentration problems, and loss of sexual desire. The research concluded that 50% of patients under 34 who underwent chemotherapy had regular menstrual cycles, while this rate was only 30% for patients between 35 and 40.

Can Precautions Be Taken Before Starting Chemotherapy?

Some precautions can be taken before starting chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can accelerate the onset of early menopause, but one of the most important preventive measures is the use of hormonal medications to stop menstruation before starting chemotherapy; these medications are available in Turkey and can be provided with social security coverage. It should be emphasized that these medications do not have any negative impact on the effectiveness of preventive treatments for breast cancer, and in some cases, they may even positively affect the course of breast cancer.

However, despite all precautions, there are still recommendations for maintaining a high quality of life if menopause occurs. Here are Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal’s recommendations:

• Consume fresh fruits and vegetables in season
• Limit the intake of salt, sugar, and saturated fats as much as possible
• Focus on foods containing estrogen, such as soybeans
• Try to maintain an ideal body weight
• Exercise for around 30 minutes a day
• Do not smoke
• Consume red meat, poultry, and fish in balanced amounts
• Pay attention to getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night
• Practice stress management