Endocrine Therapy & Memory of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients
Posted Mar 12 2010 7:06am
The development of endocrine therapies for hormone receptor - positive breast cancer, such as anti-estrogens and aromatase inhibitors, over the years has been a great advancement in breast cancer treatment resulting in improvements in breast cancer survival. However, like most drugs, these therapies often come with a long list of possible side effects. Some studies have shown that the anti-estrogen tamoxifen might reduce normal memory functions in breast cancer patients.
A new study compared the memory functions of postmenopausal breast cancer patients being treated with tamoxifen or exemestane (a common aromatase inhibitor) with the memory functions of healthy women. For this study, memory function in each group of postmenopausal women was tested before the start of treatment and again after 1 year of treatment. The breast cancer researchers reported that
Compared to healthy postmenopausal women, breast cancer patients treated with the aromatase inhibitor did not experience any worsening in their memory functions.
Breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen did worse than healthy women after 1 year of treatment on verbal memory tests (recall of word lists or stories) and tests of executive functioning (ability to plan, memory flexibility, abstract thinking).
Compared to breast cancer patients treated with exemestane, breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen processed information slower.
No differences in other tests (visual memory, working memory, reaction speed, and others) were found between the three groups of women.
In most of the tests of memory function performed in this study, neither tamoxifen nor exemestane treatment made memory worse compared to healthy, untreated postmenopausal women. However, results from a couple of the memory tests used in this study showed that tamoxifen had mild adverse effects on memory functioning. Information like this enhances our awareness of the various breast cancer treatments and is important to keep in mind when discussing treatment options with a physician. Weighing the risks and benefits of different breast cancer treatments is an important step. If one is deciding between two or more drugs that have similar benefits, being able to choose an option with fewer negative side effects might make a major difference in one's quality of life during recovery.
To learn about other choices you can make to reduce breast cancer risk, read my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer ( www.fightBCnow.com ).
A new study compared the memory functions of postmenopausal breast cancer patients being treated with tamoxifen or exemestane (a common aromatase inhibitor) with the memory functions of healthy women. For this study, memory function in each group of postmenopausal women was tested before the start of treatment and again after 1 year of treatment. The breast cancer researchers reported that
- Compared to healthy postmenopausal women, breast cancer patients treated with the aromatase inhibitor did not experience any worsening in their memory functions.
- Breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen did worse than healthy women after 1 year of treatment on verbal memory tests (recall of word lists or stories) and tests of executive functioning (ability to plan, memory flexibility, abstract thinking).
- Compared to breast cancer patients treated with exemestane, breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen processed information slower.
- No differences in other tests (visual memory, working memory, reaction speed, and others) were found between the three groups of women.
In most of the tests of memory function performed in this study, neither tamoxifen nor exemestane treatment made memory worse compared to healthy, untreated postmenopausal women. However, results from a couple of the memory tests used in this study showed that tamoxifen had mild adverse effects on memory functioning. Information like this enhances our awareness of the various breast cancer treatments and is important to keep in mind when discussing treatment options with a physician. Weighing the risks and benefits of different breast cancer treatments is an important step. If one is deciding between two or more drugs that have similar benefits, being able to choose an option with fewer negative side effects might make a major difference in one's quality of life during recovery.To learn about other choices you can make to reduce breast cancer risk, read my book Fight Now: Eat & Live Proactively Against Breast Cancer ( www.fightBCnow.com ).