Review of the Womens Health Initiative Article

Women health initiative (WHI) is a preventive clinical trial developed by the federal government in finding a solution to chronic diseases (Burstein et al. 2010). Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been under considerable scrutiny since 2002 when the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) reported that HRT, especially the combination of estrogen and progestin together, increased the risk of blood clots, breast cancer and heart attacks (Antonarakis et al. 2015). This study was mainly carried out to address the major health issues causing morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women (Anderson et al. 2012). Researchers on the ground, however, found that the risks of HRT outweighed the benefits.

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The WHI study was designed to evaluate the role of HRT in the prevention of diseases related to aging, but many women and their doctors also abandoned HRT as therapy for menopausal symptoms (Antonarakis et al. 2015). Earlier researchers had shown that the level of risk with HRT depend on the specific woman, her health history, age, and the time that has passed since the menopause began (McSweeney et al. 2011). Women below the age of 60 years and those that recently started menopause are at less risk when receiving low doses of HRT compared to older women of above 60 years.

Two approaches have been used in the management of cancer that is common in menopause women, hormonal and clinical therapy (Prentice et al. 2006). Hormonal therapy is provided by the women health initiative while the clinical treatment is done through chemotherapy (Anderson et al. 2012). The WHI study findings on estrogen plus progestin showed that; the number women who were diagnosed with breast cancer was higher in women taking estrogen plus progestin, those that developed heart attacks or blood clots in the respiratory organ and legs was lower in women taking estrogen plus progestin (Antonarakis et al. 2015). The number of women suffering from hip and other fractures was lower in women taking estrogen plus progestin, and there was no observed increase in the risk of the cancer of the breast in individuals taking estrogen alone versus those taking a placebo (Burstein et al. 2010). Hormone therapy reduces the symptoms of menopause in women and at the same time increase their chances of developing colorectal and breast cancers (Anderson et al. 2012). Doctors should, therefore, advise women on which therapy to take so that the hormonal treatment does not bring them various types of cancer (Prentice et al. 2006).

Chemotherapy in Cancer Treatment

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 (Prentice et al. 2006). 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 and quite malignant (Coombes et al. 2004). It takes many years for the patient to be confirmed safe from cancer cells after the administration of the drugs by the doctor or a specialist (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). During 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). Palliation is a kind of care that makes you feel better, even though it cant cure you (McSweeney et al. 2011).

American Cancer Society Article on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is cancer infection that begins in the colon or the rectum, and they are always grouped together because they have many features in common (Antonarakis et al. 2015). The wall of the colon and rectum are made up of several layers, and colorectal cancer starts in the innermost layer, otherwise called the mucosa and can grow through some or all of the other layers (Prentice et al. 2006). When cancer cells are in the wall, they can then grow into blood vessels or lymph vessels after which they can then travel to nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body (Burstein et al. 2010). Younger adults can develop colorectal cancer, but the chances increase markedly after one turns 50 (Anderson et al. 2012). Chemotherapy is used to treat cancer cells in the patient body by the use of drugs (McSweeney et al. 2011). As compared to surgery and radiation therapy that only destroy cancer cells in a particular area, chemotherapy works throughout the body, and this is found to be very suitable.

Women Health Initiative versus American Cancer Society

The women health initiative that uses of 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 (Prentice et al. 2006).

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 (McSweeney et al. 2011).

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 (Burstein et al. 2010). 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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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.

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