New study aiming to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for breast cancer survivors.
We are thrilled to share with you an opportunity to participate in a leading-edge IRB approved study at Southern Women's Specialists (SWS) aiming to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for breast cancer survivors. The study, "Adjunct Testosterone Implant Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients," represents a significant advancement in breast cancer care and survivorship and is being conducted in collaboration with several clinical centers.
Before delving into the details of the study, we want to provide a brief explanation of normal female hormone function. While estrogen is commonly associated with female hormones, it is essential to recognize that testosterone is actually the most abundant hormone in women. In fact, a healthy young woman typically has testosterone levels that are ten times higher than estrogen levels. Estrogen primarily functions as a reproductive hormone, with elevated levels occurring during ovulation and pregnancy.
Interestingly, the potential benefits of testosterone in breast cancer treatment were recognized as early as the 1940s.
Testosterone was found to possess the ability to kill breast cancer cells in laboratory settings and was utilized in breast cancer treatment until the advent of new therapies in the 1960s. However, the therapeutic potential of testosterone was rediscovered in the early 2000s, thanks to the dedicated research efforts of Dr. Rebecca Glaser, a breast cancer surgeon, and Dr. Constantine Dimitrakakis, a researcher at the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Over the past two decades, extensive research conducted by these experts has demonstrated the remarkable benefits of testosterone therapy in both breast cancer patients and menopausal/ perimenopausal women without breast cancer.
This research, which can be accessed at hormonebalance.org/publications, highlights the following key findings:
1. Menopausal and perimenopausal women experiencing symptoms of hormone deficiency who are treated with testosterone implants often experience a reduction in menopausal symptoms and may lower their risk of developing breast cancer by up to 39%.
2. In breast cancer patients who are recommended to take Tamoxifen or an Aromatase Inhibitor but are unable to tolerate treatment due to side effects, testosterone implants can help alleviate these side effects, enabling patients to adhere to the full treatment duration.
3. For breast cancer survivors who have completed their recommended treatment, testosterone implants may offer improvements in quality of life, metabolic health, and potentially reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer.
These findings underscore the potential of testosterone therapy to address critical challenges faced by breast cancer patients and survivors, ranging from symptom management to treatment adherence and long-term health outcomes.
This study aims to further investigate these promising outcomes and demonstrate the efficacy of adjunct testosterone implant therapy in breast cancer patients.
We invite you to learn more about the study and explore the possibility of participation by contacting Leah Choulet, program coordinator, at 615.805.5600 or leah@full-liferegistry.org.
Additionally, you can find more information about the study by going to www.fulllifehormone.com .
Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to the advancement of breast cancer care and survivorship. We look forward to the possibility of working together to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors.
Sincerely,
Angela McCool-Pearson, MD, FACOG Christy James Guepet, MD, FACOG, FPMRS
Southern Women's Specialists