SGBCC: Anti-estrogenic Effects of Hormonal Therapy May Impair Verbal Memory in Breast Cancer Patients ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND -- March 17, 2003 -- Hormonal breast cancer therapy that reduces estrogen levels may also affect cognition, according the British researchers. It is known that approximately 20% of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer will experience varying degrees of cognitive dysfunction -- commonly called "chemo brain" -- including transitory mental confusion, memory loss and depression. Now it appears that some women undergoing anti-hormonal endocrine therapies for breast cancer -- such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors -- may experience some of these same side effects. Researchers from Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Brighton, Christie Hospital, Manchester, and other Centers in England developed a pragmatic cognitive assessment for use in breast cancer therapy trials, and administered it to 94 patients in the "Aromatase, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination" (ATAC) trial. The assessment battery was also administered to 35 unmatched controls. In a presentation at the 8th International Conference on Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer, held here March 12-15, Lesley Fallowfield, Director of the Psychosocial Oncology Group at Brighton & Sussex Medical School, reported that the women from the ATAC trial were significantly impaired on measures of verbal memory and processing speed, as compared with the controls. "And when hormone-replacement therapy in each group was accounted for, the deficits [in the ATAC patients] remained significant," Dr. Fallowfield said. She said that treated patients did not differ from controls in the majority of other cognitive measurements. However, performance measures in the endocrine-treatment group did not appear to be related to the length of their treatment, the extent of surgery, anxiety or depression. [03/18/2003; Doctor's Guide] Ann's NOTE: Although this study was done with women who had breast cancer, there is nothing to preclude the idea that any woman who takes Tamoxifen might suffer this adverse effect. Those who think to use this drug for 'risk reduction' will need to consider that. Psycho-Oncology, 6/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.