Ovarian Suppression: Early Menopause and Late Effects

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Most breast tumors (90%) are early-stage, with 70% being hormone receptor-positive.
• Endocrine therapy is the primary adjuvant treatment for early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
• Ovarian function suppression (OFS) is key in premenopausal patients for adjuvant endocrine therapy and ovarian preservation during chemotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of ovarian function suppression in premenopausal breast cancer treatment.
• To discuss the significant side effects of OFS impacting patients' quality of life.
• To emphasize the need for clinician knowledge and proactive management of OFS side effects.

Main Methods:

• Review of current endocrine therapy guidelines for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
• Analysis of the role of ovarian function suppression in adjuvant and metastatic settings.
• Identification and categorization of common side effects associated with OFS.

Main Results:

• OFS is a standard component of treatment for premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
• OFS can lead to significant side effects including hot flashes, depression, cognitive issues, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain.
• Effective management of these side effects is essential for patient well-being.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians must possess a thorough understanding of OFS side effects.
• Proactive patient counseling and management of OFS side effects are fundamental for survivorship care.
• Improved management can enhance treatment adherence and patient quality of life in breast cancer survivors.