DRY MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND ATROPHY IN BREAST CANCER

I'm old enough to have undergone mammography several times, but I never get used to it. A few weeks ago, it was time again. After wandering around the Karolinska University Hospital, I finally found my way and checked in at reception, making my way through a corridor and up a few stairs. I put on a pair of blue shoe covers and entered the waiting room where about twenty women were sitting and waiting. It's hard to miss that I'm the only one who decided to wear shoe covers. For a moment, I consider taking them off, but quickly realize it would be as odd as wearing them, so I keep them on. Almost immediately, my name is called, and I hastily get up and shuffle out of the waiting room with the shoe covers rustling around my feet. A young, smiling nurse greets me in the room. She doesn't even get a chance to explain what I need to do next before I take a few quick steps to the small chair in the corner and start undressing my upper body. Then I stand there with bare breasts and those humiliating ugly shoe covers on my feet. Slowly, I turn around and start walking towards the gigantic "copier" that will x-ray my breasts. Because that's the only way I can describe a mammography machine. There is absolutely nothing that indicates that this contraption is designed to x-ray soft, round breasts of different sizes and shapes. At first glance, it actually looks like some sort of photocopier, where the breasts are squeezed between two square glass plates and then compressed to get a clear image. Suddenly, I feel a bit unsure. How did you do this again? But the nurse explains with great skill and clarity: "Alright, and then you stand with your riiiight side against the machine and then you place your riiiight breast up." I try to position my right boob correctly, and the nurse also helps to tuck in the entire breast, and then she tightens. Very tightly! It's not something terribly painful, but I can't help but think it's completely absurd that in 2023, we still haven't managed to develop a mammography apparatus that's actually designed for breasts. There's also a dual feeling about being here, partly something comedic about the whole situation where I stand half-naked, firmly clamped with one breast in a "photocopier" with those ridiculous bags on my feet, partly there's a seriousness in the room. Because this is important and sometimes life-changing. Mammography ❤️

DRY MUCOUS MEMBRANES COMMON SIDE EFFECT OF BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

For women undergoing breast cancer treatment, vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), which means dry, thin, and irritated mucous membranes in the vagina and vulva, can be both a painful and distressing side effect. VVA resembles the condition that can occur after menopause, when the body produces less estrogen. Symptoms include vaginal dryness, itching, pain during urination, and pain during intercourse.

CAUSE OF DRY MUCOUS MEMBRANES IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

Hormone therapy, used in the treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer, aims to lower levels of sex hormones, particularly estrogen, in the body. This is usually achieved by blocking estrogen receptors or reducing the body's production of estrogen. Hormone therapy is used to prevent estrogen from stimulating the growth of cancer cells, as many types of breast cancer depend on estrogen for their growth. When estrogen decreases in the body, it also affects the mucous membranes in various parts of the body, including the vagina. This is one of the main causes of dry mucous membranes and mucous membrane atrophy in breast cancer treatment. Reduced estrogen production leads to the following changes in mucous membranes:

🌺 Thinner mucous membranes

Estrogen is important for maintaining the thickness of vaginal mucous membranes. When estrogen levels decrease, the mucous membranes become thinner.

🌺 Reduced moisture

Estrogen contributes to the production of natural lubricants in the vagina. When estrogen decreases, moisture in the mucous membranes also decreases.

🌺 Reduced elasticity

Mucous membranes lose their elasticity when estrogen decreases, which can cause discomfort and pain during intercourse.

🌺 Increased susceptibility to infections

Thinner and drier mucous membranes are more susceptible to infections because they no longer have the protective barrier that would normally be present.

STUDY SHOWS VAGIVITAL AKTIVGEL HELPS BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

A study has examined whether VagiVital AktivGel can help women with breast cancer who have dry mucous membranes due to their treatment with aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase inhibitors are medications used to treat breast cancer. They prevent the body from producing estrogen, a hormone that can cause cancer cells to grow. By using aromatase inhibitors, the amount of estrogen in the body can be reduced, thus stopping the growth of cancer cells.

🌺 What the study did

The study involved 28 women with breast cancer who had dry mucous membranes and were treated with aromatase inhibitors. They used VagiVital AktivGel every day for 12 weeks. At the beginning of the study, participants assessed how bothersome their symptoms were on a four-point (1–4) scale. Symptoms included irritation and itching in the genital area, dryness in the vagina, pain during urination, and pain during intercourse.

🌺 The results

After 12 weeks with VagiVital AktivGel, the women noticed a significant relief of their symptoms. The most affected symptom decreased from an average of 2.71 to 1.33. Additionally, the total symptoms decreased from 5.39 to 2.25.

🌺 The conclusion

The results of the study suggest that VagiVital AktivGel is a very good treatment for women with breast cancer suffering from dry mucous membranes due to aromatase inhibitor therapy. The treatment proved to be safe and improved the quality of life for the women. This is important because many breast cancer patients cannot use estrogen-based treatments due to risks. So VagiVital AktivGel may be a hopeful alternative for women struggling with dry mucous membranes during their breast cancer treatment.

Read the full study on VagiVital AktivGel here!

VAGIVITAL AKTIVGEL FOR DRY MUCOUS MEMBRANES

VagiVital AktivGel is a non-greasy, Swedish hormone-free vaginal gel that relieves and treats symptoms in the intimate area such as dryness, irritation, or itching in the intimate area, discomfort during intimate intercourse, or pain during urination. The crystal-clear gel adheres to the vaginal mucous membrane and releases water to the mucous membrane over time, restoring pH and stimulating the growth of cells in the mucous membrane's surface layer. Recommended by gynecologists, and the results are clinically proven where the outcome has been documented in a multicenter study conducted together with female researchers (associate professors and professors in the field of gynecology) from Karolinska University Hospital, Uppsala University Hospital, and Norrland University Hospital.

Stay Pussytive ❤️