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. 2017 Mar 21;17(1):22.
doi: 10.1186/s12905-017-0370-6.

The effect of hormone therapy on quality of life and breast cancer risk after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy: a systematic review

Tasneem Siyam  1 , Sue Ross  2 , Sandra Campbell  3 , Dean T Eurich  4 , Nesé Yuksel  5
Affiliations

The effect of hormone therapy on quality of life and breast cancer risk after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy: a systematic review

Tasneem Siyam et al. BMC Womens Health. .

Abstract

Background: It is unclear if the use of hormone therapy (HT) in carriers of BRCA mutations improves the quality of life (QOL) without increasing the risk of breast cancer following a risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Our objective was to assess the effect of HT on QOL and breast cancer risk, after RRSO.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL, and others, from inception to July 22, 2016, to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers independently screened identified records for controlled trials and observational studies that addressed the effect of HT on QOL and breast cancer risk in women with BRCA mutations, post RRSO. Two reviewers independently extracted data on populations, interventions, comparators, outcomes, and methodological quality. Studies addressing the same outcome were synthesized using written evidence summaries or tables.

Results: Of the 1,059 records identified, 13 met our inclusion criteria. All studies were observational. Six studies assessed the effect on QOL. Of these, 3 showed improvement in QOL with HT use. The risk of breast cancer was evaluated in 4 studies. The mean duration of follow-up was 2.6 years (range 0.1-19.1). The risk of breast cancer did not change with HT use in all 4 studies.

Conclusions: Cumulative evidence from our review suggests that short-term HT use following RRSO improves QOL. The effect on breast cancer risk is still unclear. There are too few long-term studies to draw any strong conclusions. The need for future well-designed RCTs for more established evidence is imperative.

Keywords: BRCA1/2; Breast cancer; Hormone Therapy; QOL; RRSO.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart for study identification and selection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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