Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Aromatase Inhibitor Induced Joint Symptoms in Women With Breast Cancer

Due to early detection and improved treatments, women with breast cancer are living longer. The increase in breast cancer survival is largely due to the benefits of hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (AIs), for the treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that AIs are more effective than tamoxifen at reducing breast cancer recurrences. However, breast cancer patients receiving AIs have a higher incidence of osteoporosis, bone fractures and musculoskeletal symptoms, particularly joint pain and stiffness. Musculoskeletal pain, which occurs in up to 50% of patients treated with AIs, often does not respond to conventional pain medications, may lead to noncompliance, may cause major disability, and may interfere with quality of life. Many women are unable to tolerate these life-saving drugs because of severe joint pain, therefore, safe and effective treatments that alleviate these symptoms are needed.