Menopause: identification and management

Recommendation ID: NG23/1
Question: Women with breast cancer:- What is the safety and effectiveness of alternatives to systemic HRT as treatments for menopausal symptoms in women who have had treatment for breast cancer?
Any explanatory notes (if applicable): Why this is important:- Women with a history of breast cancer are rarely offered hormonal treatment for menopausal symptoms but the available alternatives are less effective. There is limited evidence from randomised controlled trials on the safety and effectiveness of options such as non-hormonal treatments, ospemifene, conjugated equine estrogen/bazedoxifene (CEE/BZA) or local vaginal oestrogen for menopausal symptoms in women who have had treatment for breast cancer. There is
insufficient evidence on the efficacy and safety of non-pharmaceutical treatments in women with breast cancer and other hormone-sensitive conditions. Randomised controlled trials or large cohort studies are needed to understand the effects of these treatments in women with breast cancer, and to investigate if there is a difference in breast cancer recurrence, mortality and tumour aggression with different types of treatment.

Source guidance details

Is this a recommendation for the use of a technology only in the context of research?	No
Is it a recommendation that suggests collection of data or the establishment of a register?	No
Last Reviewed	30/11/2015