Menopausal Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Hormonal Therapy

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  • ホルモン療法を受ける乳がん患者の更年期症状の実態
  • ホルモン リョウホウ オ ウケル ニュウガン カンジャ ノ コウネンキ ショウジョウ ノ ジッタイ

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Abstract

<p>Abstract</p><p>This study describes menopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy and discusses aspects regarding treatment and care for these symptoms. Self‒administered anonymous questionnaires were mailed to 133 patients. Demographic information and data regarding menopausal symptoms and health states were collected. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Simplified Menopausal Index （SMI）, a 10‒item scale that assesses symptom severity. Total SMI scores range from 0 （best） to 100 （worst） and a score of ≥51 indicates that treatment and care are necessary. In addition, health states were assessed using a 9‒item scale, with each item being rated from scores of 0 （best） to 10 （worst）. After using descriptive statistics, menopausal symptoms were compared by the type of hormone preparations and duration of hormonal therapy. Health states were compared by the total SMI scores. SPSS ver. 18 was used for data analysis. </p><p>A total of 83 patients responded to the questionnaire （response rate 62.4 ％）. Their mean age was 52.5 years （SD＝8.4 years） and the mean duration of hormonal therapy was 24.7 months （SD＝17.2 months）. More than half the patients experienced all menopausal symptoms. With regard to SMI, 63 patients （75.9 ％） scored ＜50 and 20 （24.1 ％） scored ≧51；health states among patients scoring ≧51, tended to be worse than health states of those scoring ＜50. Total SMI score showed no significant difference with regard to the duration of hormonal therapy. Our study results showed that menopausal symptoms continued through the duration of hormonal therapy. </p><p>Among breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy, 1 in 4 required treatment and care for menopausal symptoms, and the health states in those patients were worse. However, in reality they received neither treatment nor care. Once hormonal therapy begins, breast cancer patients have to take medications for a long period. If menopausal symptoms are managed according to the severity during this time, patients’ quality of life will improve.</p>

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