Estrogen ring breast cancer survivor

By Caroline Helwick January 15, Advertisement. Vulvovaginal atrophy is a concern for the majority of patients with breast cancer, not only because of its physical and psychosexual consequences, but because the optimal treatment—estrogen replacement—is controversial. Patients and physicians alike remain concerned that external estradiol may contribute to the risk of cancer recurrence. Simon delivered a lecture on vulvovaginal atrophy at the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco. Genitourinary atrophy involves the entire perineum, an area loaded with estrogen receptors.

The research was published online on Aug. Overall, the study includes information from more than , postmenopausal women who were ages 50 to 79 when they joined from to The WHI wants to find any links between health, diet, and lifestyle factors and health problems such as cancer. For this study, the researchers looked at information from 45, women who were ages 50 to The women had not taken any type of hormone replacement therapy. Information about vaginal estrogen use was self-reported in the regular questionnaires sent out as part of the WHI. The results are reassuring that vaginal estrogen use is not associated with increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease," she added.

Prescription creams, rings or tablets that release estrogen locally in the vagina are available to treat the problem. But whether these products are safe for women who have had an estrogen-fueled tumor remains an open question. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 3 million breast cancer survivors are in the U. Women with estrogen-dependent cancers, who make up about three-quarters of all breast cancer cases, typically take an anti-estrogen therapy for five to 10 years to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Dana Farrington. Treatment for breast cancer can have side effects including painful sex, to the point that women forgo cancer medications. The nation's gynecologists say that breast cancer survivors should have the option of using topical estrogen to relieve symptoms such as painful sex and urinary tract infections. Women with estrogen-dependent breast cancer are generally told to avoid the hormone because it can fuel recurrence.