Essay Example: Therapy in Postmenopausal Women

Women health initiative (WHI) is a preventive clinical trial developed by the federal government in finding a solution to chronic diseases (Anderson et al. 2012). The chronic diseases under the new control measure were, colorectal and breast cancer, and the osteoporotic fractures (Chlebowski et al. 2009). Most of these complications are common in postmenopausal women who are old to take care of themselves. In most cases, cancer attack old women who are past menopause (Manson et al. 2013). A preventive measure is always better than cure hence scientists have done research that can prevent and manage the development of cancer cells (Chlebowski et al. 2009). Two approaches have been used in the management of cancer that is common in menopause women, hormonal and clinical therapy (Hirsch et al. 2009). Hormonal therapy is provided by the women health initiative while the clinical treatment is done through chemotherapy.

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For instance, Cancer is a chronic disease that is common in senior women who are past menopause. It can be treated at an early age if it is diagnosed before it spreads (Prentice et al. 2006). Hormone therapy has been on a try for adoption as one of the treatment therapy for the deadly disease, but it still faces some opposition (Barrett-Connor et al. 2006). It is argued that hormone therapy leads to cancer in postmenopausal women. The women health initiative still face discussion based on the possible symptoms that can result from hormonal therapy (Chlebowski et al. 2009). The therapy applies the use of estrogen together with progestin in symptom control (Dent et al. 2007). The two hormones are believed to be the primary causes of breast cancer in the elderly women (Burstein et al. 2010). From research, it is found that a higher number of women who have breast cancer take estrogen plus progestin (Antonarakis et al. 2015). Even though hormone therapy is used in the management of various disease including cancer, it also leads to the development of cancer.

To begin with, It has been confirmed that there is a high risk of breast cancer development in women using estrogen plus progestin therapy (Coombes et al. 2004). Postmenopausal women decide on the use of hormone therapy following some effects of menopause such as sweat at night, vaginal dryness and hot flushes that cause cardiovascular disease (Dent et al. 2007).

Chemotherapy in Cancer Treatment

On the other hand, chemotherapy is used to treat cancer cells in the patient body by the use of drugs (Prentice et al. 2006). As compared to surgery and radiation therapy that only destroy cancer cells in a particular area, chemotherapy work throughout the body (Howerton 2012). Chemotherapy has three goals to achieve in patients, cure, control, and palliation (Manson et al. 2013). Even though the primary goal is to cure cancer, it is not a guarantee to get cured since cancer cells are complicated (Coombes et al. 2004). It takes many years for the patient to be confirmed safe from cancer cells after the administration of the drugs (Barrett-Connor et al. 2006). In most cases, curing cancer is always not possible hence doctors set their goals to control its effect on the patient (McSweeney et al. 2011). The chemo drugs are used to suppress and shrink tumors thus preventing it from spreading further (Burstein et al. 2010). At an advanced stage, it is not easy to cure or control cancer hence palliation is used to help the patients through the symptoms (Dent et al. 2007).

Women Health Initiative versus American Cancer Society The women health initiative that uses estrogen and progestin hormone in the treatment of cancer leads to the development of cancer while the chemotherapy control and cure cancer (Di Fiore et al. 2007).

Hormonal control of the disease can lead to many other complications while chemotherapy can be used to control and cure cancer without any associated complications (Hirsch et al. 2009).

Hormonal therapy is used in women that have passed their menopause while chemotherapy is used on every cancer patient (Antonarakis et al. 2015). Various cancer development cases have been reported among women using the estrogen plus progestin with zero cases on chemo treatment (McSweeney et al. 2011).

Finally, hormonal treatment is associated with high risk on the patient health while the chemotherapy can only cure, control or palliate (Chlebowski et al. 2009).

Impact of the treatments on the patient

Further, Women past menopause experience various symptoms that do not allow them to enjoy better part of life (Coombes et al. 2004). It is from the experience that these women decide on using the hormonal treatment (Howerton 2012). Doctors are to advise them on the possible risks before they decide on which therapy to take (Antonarakis et al. 2015). Hormone therapy reduces the symptoms of menopause and at the same time, it exposes the patient to chances of developing cancer.

Chemotherapy could only be productive in patients who are already diagnosed with cancer cells (Anderson et al. 2006). The three goals that are associated with this type of therapy make it the best means of managing the chronic diseases (Burstein et al. 2010). From the research conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, current chemotherapy should be preferred to the hormonal therapy since it has less risk for the menopause (Hirsch et al. 2009). No case has been reported in the patient using chemotherapy to be at any risk.

In summary, postmenopausal women face a lot of challenges that needs proper medication and not just control (Anderson et al. 2006). Medical research has proved the use of hormonal therapy to be one of the primary causes of various diseases in menopause women (Coombes et al. 2004). At the same time, hormonal therapy helps postmenopausal women to reduce the menopause symptoms. It will be better if the senior women are counseled by the specialized doctors before they make a decision on which therapy to take (Anderson et al. 2012). The women are referred to menopause specialist who has a better experience on their health matters.

Reference

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Anderson, G. L., Chlebowski, R. T., Rossouw, J. E., Rodabough, R. J., McTiernan, A., Margolis, K. L., ... & Khandekar, J. (2006). Prior hormone therapy and breast cancer risk in the Women's Health Initiative randomized trial of estrogen plus progestin. Maturitas, 55(2), 103-115.

Antonarakis, E. S., Lu, C., Luber, B., Wang, H., Chen, Y., Nakazawa, M., & Eisenberger, M. A. (2015). Androgen receptor splice variant 7 and efficacy of taxane chemotherapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. JAMA oncology, 1(5), 582-591.

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Chlebowski, R. T., Kuller, L. H., Prentice, R. L., Stefanick, M. L., Manson, J. E., Gass, M., & Rajkovic, A. (2009). Breast cancer after use of estrogen plus progestin in postmenopausal women. New England Journal of Medicine,360(6), 573-587.

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Coombes, R. C., Hall, E., Gibson, L. J., Paridaens, R., Jassem, J., Delozier, T & Coates, A. S. (2004). A randomized trial of exemestane after two to three years of tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(11), 1081-1092.

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Di Fiore, F., Blanchard, F., Charbonnier, F., Le Pessot, F., Lamy, A., Galais, M. P., & Queuniet, A. M. (2007). Clinical relevance of KRAS mutation detection in metastatic colorectal cancer treated by Cetuximab plus chemotherapy. British journal of cancer, 96(8), 1166-1169.

Hirsch, H. A., Iliopoulos, D., Tsichlis, P. N., & Struhl, K. (2009). Metformin selectively targets cancer stem cells, and acts together with chemotherapy to block tumor growth and prolong remission. Cancer research, 69(19), 7507-7511.

Howerton, D. M. (2012). Health Care Disparities: The Impact of Benevolent Sexism.

Manson, J. E., Chlebowski, R. T., Stefanick, M. L., Aragaki, A. K., Rossouw, J. E., Prentice, R. L., ... & Wactawski-Wende, J. (2013). Menopausal hormone therapy and health outcomes during the intervention and extended poststopping phases of the Womens Health Initiative randomized trials. Jama, 310(13), 1353-1368.

McSweeney, J. C., Pettey, C. M., Souder, E., & Rhoads, S. (2011). Disparities in women's cardiovascular health. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 40(3), 362-371.

Prentice, R. L., Caan, B., Chlebowski, R. T., Patterson, R., Kuller, L. H., Ockene, J. K., & Paskett, E. (2006). Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of invasive breast cancer: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. Jama, 295(6), 629-642.