Experiences of genitourinary symptoms in postmenopausal women receiving hormonal therapy for early stage breast cancer

This study is investigating the prevalence and severity of genitourinary symptoms in postmenopausal women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for early stage breast cancer and the impact on sexual function and quality of life. Who is it for? You may be eligible to joint this study if you are a postmenopausal female, aged 18 -75 years, with early stage breast cancer and hormone receptor-positive tumours, for which you are about to commence adjuvant endocrine therapy with either tamoxifen (TAM) or aromatase inhibitors (AIs). You will need to be sufficiently competent in English in order to complete the study questionnaires. Study details All participants in this study are asked to complete self-administered questionnaires at baseline (prior to starting endocrine therapy), and 6-, 12- and 24-month follow-ups. The standardised questionnaires used relate to genitourinary symptoms, sexual function and quality of life. The findings from this study could be used to identify patients at risk of developing genitourinary symptoms and also to offer appropriate interventions early to prevent and ameliorate such symptoms which are likely to have a negative impact on quality of life and may contribute to a low compliance with treatment. We believe that this study has the potential to document the extent and impact of genitourinary symptoms in breast cancer survivors about to start adjuvant endocrine therapy and what happens over time. It will also lead to intervention studies in the future.