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Q: “Why do some breast cancer treatments bring on early menopause?”
A: Before I dive into this answer, I want to clarify something important: Estrogen doesn't cause cancer. However, it can cause some cancer cells to grow more quickly. That's why many breast cancer treatments work, in part, by lowering estrogen. And while this can be beneficial for cancer treatment, the quick decline in estrogen can cause menopause to happen sooner than expected.
Chemotherapy can temporarily—or sometimes permanently—stop ovaries (the body’s primary producers of estrogen) from working, while surgery to remove the ovaries causes the immediate onset of menopause. And some cancer therapies, such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, can also trigger menopause-like symptoms including hot flashes, brain fog, or vaginal dryness.
While these treatments are powerful tools in cancer care, early menopause can bring its own challenges—from hot flashes and weight changes to sleep disruption and painful sex. The good news: There are safe, effective options for managing these symptoms, from lifestyle strategies to non-hormonal medications and localized estrogen therapy, like vaginal estrogen creams. Midi’s clinicians take your full health journey into account and work with you to find the approach that’s right for your body.
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