Menopause Awareness Month
October is World Menopause Awareness Month. This year's theme is Lifestyle Medicine. Highlighting how everyday choices like food, movement, sleep, stress management, and self-care can help people manage menopausal symptoms.
Cancer treatment can sometimes cause menopause to happen earlier than expected, or cause menopause-like symptoms. Knowing what to expect and where to get support can help.
Can cancer treatment cause menopause or menopause-like symptoms?
Some cancer treatments can affect hormone levels, which may cause menopausal symptoms or bring on an early menopause.
This can happen with treatments including:
- chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, such as Letrozole (Femara®)
- hormone therapy for prostate cancer
- surgery that affects hormone-producing organs
What are the common symptoms?
Everyone experiences menopause differently. Symptoms can include:
- hot flushes or night sweats
- changes to sexual health, such as vaginal dryness or reduced sex drive
- trouble sleeping
- mood changes, anxiety or low mood
- brain fog or difficulty concentrating.
If you have symptoms or are worried about how cancer treatment may affect you, talk to your cancer team or GP. They can explain what may be causing your symptoms and what support or treatments might help.
We have more information about menopause and cancer treatments.
Everyday steps that might help
Eating well
Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains may help protect your heart and bones. Reducing processed foods and alcohol may also ease hot flushes.
Physical activity
Being active, even gentle daily exercise can lift your mood, help with sleep, and keep bones strong.
Sleep
Having a regular sleep routine may help you sleep better. You could try keeping regular bedtimes, limiting caffeine later in the day and keeping your bedroom cool and dark.
Stress management
Some people find breathing exercises, mindfulness or gentle activities such as yoga helpful for managing stress and anxiety.
Self-care
Making time to rest, doing things you enjoy or connecting with other people may also help your emotional wellbeing.
Treatments and complementary therapies
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
HRT can help with menopausal symptoms, but it may not be suitable for everyone who has or has had cancer. Your cancer doctor, specialist nurse or GP can talk to you about whether HRT is suitable for you and other treatment options that may help.
In England, an HRT prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) can help you save money if you take eligible medicines.
Complementary therapies
Some people find that yoga, acupuncture, or breathing exercises help with hot flushes or stress. Always check with your cancer team or GP before trying new therapies, particularly while you are having cancer treatment.Real-life stories
Everyone's experience is different, but hearing how other people have coped can sometimes help.
“Hormone therapy brought on a quick menopause.” Emma
I read more about my hormone therapy tablets and injections on the Macmillan website and spoke to a couple of people on the Online Community about it. I felt like being prepared was my best course of action. I feel that the more prepared I am the better.
"I went through the menopause and that floored me on top of my cancer treatment." Karen
I was overwhelmed by everything going on. Maybe it was the menopause, the brain fog and the trauma of everything going on. I hit this wall where I did not care what happened to me. Macmillan Buddies helped to save me as I was at rock bottom. I started to take one day at a time.
Cancer Professionals Podcast: Menopause and cancer: What we need to talk about
This episode features insights from Dani Binnington, founder of Menopause and Cancer, and Professor Richard Simcock, Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan and Consultant Clinical Oncologist, who highlights the complexities of menopause as a result of cancer treatments.
If you work in cancer care or are interested in developments in this area, listen to the Cancer Professionals Podcast where you can hear from expert guests and find out about the latest innovations and best practice.
Key things to remember
- Cancer treatment can cause menopause to happen earlier than expected or cause menopause-like symptoms.
- Things such as eating well, keeping active, getting enough sleep and looking after your emotional wellbeing may help you manage some symptoms.
- Talk to your cancer team or GP about symptoms that are affecting you. They can explain what support and treatments may be available.
- You are not alone. Macmillan is here to support you.
How we can help
Our cancer information nurse specialists can help you to understand information about diagnosis and treatment.
Other organisations who can help
Other organisations offering support include:
- NHS,
- Boots health hub,
- Rock my menopause
- Queermenopause for people who identify as LGBTQ+.