For Women Like Actress Naomi Watts, Early Menopause Is Linked To Increased Cancer Risk, Important New Study Finds

Understanding Early Menopause

• New research presented this week at ENDO 2024 suggests women who are affected by early menopause, something which actress Naomi Watts experienced at 36, can result in a heightened risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer.
• According to the Endocrine Society, the new findings revealed that breast cancer risk for women with early menopause was two times greater. Additionally, a woman’s ovarian cancer risk was increased by almost four times (borderline risk).
• Dr. Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center, tells SurvivorNet menopause doesn’t cause cancer, however, as women get older, their risk of developing cancer rises.
• “Starting menopause after age 55 increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer. That’s probably because she’s been exposed to more estrogen,” Dr. Bevers explains. “During a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen stimulates the uterus and breast tissue. So the more menstrual periods a woman has, the longer these tissues are exposed to estrogen.”

At 36 years old, actress Naomi Watts experienced symptoms of early menopause [menopause that occurs before a woman turns 45]. Now, as Watts is 55 and spreading awareness for perimenopause, new research presented this week suggests women who are affected by menopause before turning 40 are at a heightened risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. The research was shared at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's yearly meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. According to the Endocrine Society , which reported on the new findings shared at the annual event, revealed that breast cancer risk for women with early menopause was two times greater. Additionally, a woman's ovarian cancer risk was increased by almost four times (borderline risk). Dr. Corrine Welt, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City, Utah, said in a statement, "There is also higher risk of breast, prostate and colon cancer in relatives of these women." The study was aimed to figure out whether women who's ovaries stopped working before turning 40 [primary ovarian insufficiency] and their families may be predisposed to reproductive or hormone-related cancers. Researchers involved in the study looked at 613 with primary ovarian insufficiency and 165 women with early menopause from separate healthcare systems in Utah between 1995 and 2021. Dr. Welt explained, "Women who have infertility from low egg numbers or experience early menopause should make sure they are regularly screened for breast cancer, especially if they have family members with cancer. “Doctors who practice general medicine, gynecology and fertility treatment should be aware that early menopause increases risk for a number of diseases, and they should now be aware that breast cancer may be one of these diseases to watch for.” To obtain their findings, the researchers used the Utah Population Database genealogy to find relatives and look into the women and their family members (who were diagnosed with breast, ovarian, endometrial, colon, testicular, and prostate cancers) via the Utah Cancer Registry.

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They discovered that second-degree relatives had a 1.3 times higher risk of breast cancer and 1.5 times higher risk of colon cancer. Additionally, a 1.3 to 1.6 times increased risk of prostate cancer was found in first-, second-, and third-degree relatives.

Naomi Watts's Early Menopause Journey

Naomi Watts, who's breakout role was in "Mulholland Drive," has been candid about her journey with early menopause and how she felt like she was " spiraling out of control " while experiencing symptoms at a young age. Now she's working to spread awareness and help other women feel empowered to talk about menopause. She previously took to Instagram to say, "When I was in my late 30s, I was finally ready to start thinking about creating a family. Then the M word swiftly blew my doors down, it felt like a head-on collision with a Mack truck. "How could I figure this out when no one was talking? I was earlier to it than my peers. My mentors and mum didn't seem up for discussing it, I didn’t know how to ask for help and they didn’t know how to provide…. even doctors had little to say. It’s oddly like an unwritten code of silence: women should suck it up and cope, because that’s how generations passed have done it." Watts continued, "I think it’s time to see women in this phase of life or this age group be well represented. We've been under-served in media, stories and marketing far too long. Particularly since more than 1 billion people worldwide will be menopausal by 2025… When you spotlight uncomfortable conversations, they get easier. Progress is made. Why has this particular one taken so long? "Let’s conquer the stigma and address the secrecy and shame we’ve felt and help create a healthier foundation for future generations. Getting older is a privilege and a time for us to feel proud of our cumulative experiences — to feel empowered, unapologetically so. I think being part of a change-maker generation is exciting. No more walking through this alone."

Early Menopause and Cancer Risk

For Naomi Watts , and many other women like herself, it's important to be aware of the cancer risks that may arise when one goes through early menopause. In an earlier interview with Dr. Therese Bevers , M.D., medical director of MD Anderson's Cancer Prevention Center, offered some insight into the link between menopause and how it affects a woman’s cancer risk. Navigating Menopause Dr. Bevers says menopause doesn’t cause cancer, however, as women get older, their risk of developing cancer rises. "Starting menopause after age 55 increases a woman's risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer. That's probably because she's been exposed to more estrogen,” Dr. Bevers explains. “During a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen stimulates the uterus and breast tissue. So the more menstrual periods a woman has, the longer these tissues are exposed to estrogen.” She noted that women who begin the menopausal transition at a later age “also may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, possibly because they have had more ovulations.” Dr. Bevers suggests women try safer alternatives when coping with menopausal symptoms, instead of first trying hormonal therapy, as it’s been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers. RELATED: Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase Your Risk of Cancer? Understanding the Connection She advises women to make “small lifestyle changes,” to reduce symptoms, like avoiding coffee before showering  can make a big difference. Other safe and health ways to manage symptoms, according to Dr. Bevers, include:

• Exercising regularly
• Reducing stress
• Getting enough sleep
• Avoiding hot flash triggers like coffee, tea and alcohol
• Quitting smoking

“The same ways you reduce your cancer risk before menopause: exercise, eat a healthy diet, don't smoke and avoid secondhand smoke, and maintain a healthy body weight,” Dr. Bevers adds. “Research shows that gaining weight after menopause increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer, but losing weight after menopause can actually reduce your risk.” Your risk for breast cancer comes from a variety of potential places. Some of these are risk factors you simply can't change. Others you can impact by modifying your behaviors and that's good news for people who want to take an active role in their personal risk reduction. Exercise Can Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk "Common causes include genetic predispositions, such as BRCA mutations or other mutations that cause breast cancer," Dr. Sarah Cate , assistant professor of surgery Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tells SurvivorNet. "Other causes are family history, obesity, radiation to the chest like is used in Hodgkin's lymphoma, alcohol use, never having children, and certain types of abnormal breast biopsies." RELATED: The Top Breast Cancer Risk Factors and What You Can Do About It These are factors we can't control, but “what we can control are factors like diet and exercise, as well as alcohol,” Dr. Cate explains.

The Difference Between Menopause and Early Menopause

Menopause is described by the National Institute on Aging , as “a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period.” Additionally, “The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.” The average age women go through the menopausal transition, which usually lasts approximately seven to 14 years, ranges between ages 45 and 55. RELATED: Trying to Offset Menopause? ‘Many Women Are Unaware of the Heightened Cancer Risks Of Hormone Replacement Therapy With Estrogen “The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity,” the institute explains. “The menopausal transition affects each woman uniquely and in various ways. The body begins to use energy differently, fat cells change, and women may gain weight more easily. You may experience changes in your bone or heart health, your body shape and composition, or your physical function.” As for early menopause, the National Cancer Institute says it’s a condition which causes the ovaries to stop working and menstrual periods to stop before a woman turns 40. It’s a transition that can lead to fertility issues and symptoms of menopause. Additionally, early menopause is split up into two types, primary and secondary. According to the National Cancer Institut e, “There are two types of early menopause, primary and secondary. Primary early menopause means that the ovaries do not function normally. This may be because they have been removed by surgery, or it may be caused by some cancer treatments and certain diseases or genetic conditions. “In secondary early menopause, the ovaries are normal but there is a problem getting hormone signals to them from the brain. This is usually caused by diseases of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Some women with early menopause sometimes have menstrual periods and may be able to have children. Also called ovarian failure, ovarian insufficiency, and premature menopause.” Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff