Breast Cancer Decline Tied to Decrease in HRT: Menopause & Living Well With Non-Hormonal Solutions

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- A stunning seven percent drop in breast cancer rates has been primarily attributed to fewer women using hormone therapy as reported in a recent analysis by researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Lil' Drug Store Consumer Products anticipates that as a result, more women will be forgoing hormones and looking for other options to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Many will be relieved to learn that it is possible to manage the exasperating effects of menopause; including, hot flashes, feminine dryness, night sweats, sleeplessness, and irritability, without hormones.

Here are some tips to help women live well with non-hormonal solutions for five of the most common menopause symptoms:

1) Hot Flashes More than two-thirds of women experience a flushing of the face and neck with the sensation of being hot, commonly called a "hot flash." Simple lifestyle changes may help to alleviate hot flashes, including proper diet and exercise. This may include avoiding foods that many women report as hot flash triggers such as hot drinks, hot or spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and cigarette smoking and maintaining a healthy diet. "Women who live in cultures with diets rich in phytoestrogens and isoflavones have fewer hot flashes," explained Cathy Luchetti, author of The Hot Flash Cookbook. "When prepared correctly these foods are not only helpful for menopausal symptoms, they are quite good and nutritious." Luchetti suggests foods with high levels of phytoestrogenic activity such as yams, mangos, millet, kale, peanuts and citrus fruits. 2) Feminine Dryness One of the most common and troublesome symptoms of menopause is feminine dryness. Decreases in estrogen levels can cause vaginal tissues to become thin, dry, and less elastic. Without treatment, the problem may worsen and the tissues can become inflamed -- a condition called atrophic vaginitis. Feminine dryness, whether mild or severe, can cause pain during intimacy and discomfort, itching, and irritation even among those who are not sexually active. Feminine dryness is one of the most treatable symptoms of menopause as a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reported that an over-the-counter product, Replens Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer, is as effective as prescription hormones. "In a randomized trial, a polycarbophil-based vaginal moisturizer available over the counter (Replens) provided relief of vaginal symptoms that was equivalent to that of vaginal estrogen ... " stated the article from the Nov. 30th, issue entitled "Management of Menopausal Symptoms," by Deborah Grady, M.D., M.P.H. "Oral phytoestrogens have not proved to be effective for the treatment of vaginal symptoms." 3) Night Sweats More than half of women will experience night sweats at some point during menopause. Night sweats are hot flashes with drenching perspiration that occur in the evening often causing sleep disruption. Today's menopausal women have better ways of coping with night sweats thanks to new fabric technologies. "The same fabrics that were developed to help outdoor enthusiasts stay dry can also help menopausal women overcome the effects of night sweats," explains Kendra Novick, founder of Wicking J. Sleepwear. Wicking J. Sleepwear is designed from a "wicking" fabric that actually pulls the moisture away from the skin allowing for a restful night's sleep. "This comfortable sleepwear has been specially designed for menopausal women with ample coverage where women generally perspire and need the wicking capabilities." 4) Sleeplessness Nearly all menopausal women report trouble sleeping at some point during the menopause transition and occasional sleeplessness may continue for the remainder of life. It can take the form of restlessness, having trouble falling asleep or waking several times throughout the night. Night sweats can also contribute to the problem. Sleep disruptions during menopause can be managed similarly to sleeplessness during other times of life. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. Exercise daily, but not before bedtime. Create a sleep conducive environment that is quiet, cool, and dark. Some women love The Chillow, a memory foam pillow insert with a liquid core that helps your pillow stay cool throughout the night. For occasional sleeplessness, over-the-counter sleep aids can help. In more severe cases, women should consult their doctor to rule out sleep disorders and to discuss prescription sleep aid options. 5) Irritability Many women (and their spouses) report irritability and mood swings during menopause, but there is little evidence to support a direct connection. However, sleeplessness and lower quality sleep due to night sweats may go a long way toward explaining the fatigue, irritability and moodiness often associated with menopause. If depression or mood swings continue, it is important to see a doctor as these conditions may be incorrectly attributed to menopause but actually relate to other health conditions such as thyroid disorders or side effects of medications. While clinical studies do not indicate that menopause is the direct cause of psychological problems, it is understandable that women would be more stressed, unusually emotional and even depressed during this time. Menopause can cause some women to feel overwhelmed or out of control. This can be heightened by a sense of loneliness and isolation if they are not able to discuss the changes they are experiencing. Many women find it helpful to join a group of women who are experiencing the same thing, such as Red Hot Mamas (http://www.redhotmamas.org/ ), the nation's largest menopause education program offered online and in 90 hospitals in 29 states. "Menopause is a normal biological phenomenon which affects over 300 different body functions," said Karen Giblin, founder of Red Hot Mamas. "Women need to be fully informed in dealing with the changes. Learning that other women are experiencing the same problems can put them in perspective and help menopause to become a time of positive transformation and growth."

The new M. D. Anderson Cancer Center analysis further solidifies the results of the federal Women's Health Initiative study linking HRT to breast cancer and other life threatening illnesses such as heart disease. Half a million women stopped taking hormone replacement as a result of the 2002 study.

As widely reported, cases of breast cancer declined most among women 50+, the group most likely to have taken hormones for menopausal symptoms. The decline was biggest for tumors whose growth is fueled by estrogen which account for seventy percent of all breast cancers, and most commonly, affected by hormone use.

For further information regarding menopause, visit http://www.redhotmamas.org/ or visit http://www.menopause.org/ for the North American Menopause Society and publisher of the Menopause Guidebook, 6th Edition.