Brief Report

Does hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer have a detrimental effect on memory and cognition? A pilot study

  1. Valerie Jenkins1,*,
  2. Valerie Shilling1,
  3. Lesley Fallowfield2,
  4. Anthony Howell2,
  5. Sam Hutton3

Article first published online: 3 JUN 2003

DOI: 10.1002/pon.709

Issue

Psycho‐Oncology

Psycho-Oncology

Volume 13, Issue 1, pages 61–66, January 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jenkins, V., Shilling, V., Fallowfield, L., Howell, A. and Hutton, S. (2004), Does hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer have a detrimental effect on memory and cognition? A pilot study. Psycho-Oncology, 13: 61–66. doi: 10.1002/pon.709

Author Information

  1. 1

    Cancer Research UK, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK

  2. 2

    Cancer Research UK, Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK

  3. 3

    Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK

*Cancer Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton BNG 1QG, UK

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 DEC 2003
  2. Article first published online: 3 JUN 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 22 NOV 2002
  4. Manuscript Received: 31 JUL 2002

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Abstract

This pilot study examines whether hormone therapy for breast cancer affects cognition. Patients participating in a randomised trial of anastrozole, tamoxifen alone or combined (ATAC) (n=94) and a group of women without breast cancer (n=35) completed a battery of neuropsychological measures. Compared with the control group, the patients were impaired on a processing speed task (p=0.032) and on a measure of immediate verbal memory (p=0.026) after controlling for the use of hormone replacement therapy in both groups. Patient group performance was not significantly related to length of treatment or measures of psychological morbidity. The results showed specific impairments in processing speed and verbal memory in women receiving hormonal therapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Verbal memory may be especially sensitive to changes in oestrogen levels, a finding commonly reported in studies of hormone replacement therapy in healthy women. In view of the increased use of hormone therapies in an adjuvant and preventative setting their impact on cognitive functioning should be investigated more thoroughly. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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