According to a recent study published in The Lancet, CBT can help reduce menopausal symptoms among women following breast cancer treatment. Menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats are fairly prevalent among female breast cancer patients (65-85%) following treatment. In the current study, researchers sought to determine whether CBT can help breast cancer patients effectively manage menopausal symptoms. Participants included 96 women recruited from breast clinics in London, UK. They were randomly assigned to received either group CBT (90-minute weekly sessions for 6 weeks) or usual care. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 9 weeks, and 26 weeks following intervention. At the 9 week follow up, CBT significantly reduced menopausal symptoms, improved mood, sleep, and quality of life among group CBT participants. These results were maintained at 26 weeks. These findings suggest that incorporating CBT into breast cancer programs may be beneficial to breast cancer survivors with problematic menopausal symptoms.
Mann, E., Smith, M. J., Hellier, J., Balabanovic, J. A., Hamed, H., Grunfeld, E. A., & Hunter, M. S. (2012). Cognitive behavioural treatment for women who have menopausal symptoms after breast cancer treatment (MENOS 1): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncology, 13, 3, 309-318.