Cancer And Menopause

Cancer is the gift that keeps on giving and something I've been left with after my treatment is with me for the long term..... menopause. But not just any menopause, we're talking surgical menopause, so it was instant and following further testing on my tumours I'm now not able to use HRT to manage the symptoms.

Of course I'm not alone, many women who have undergone cancer treatment are at a higher risk of experiencing early menopause due to medical interventions like surgery or chemotherapy. And let's face it, dealing with cancer is hard enough without also having to navigate the confusing and often frustrating world of menopause.

So let's start with the basics. Surgical menopause occurs when ovaries are removed surgically. This can happen due to a hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus and possibly the ovaries as well (the removal of ovaries alone is called an oophorectomy). When the ovaries are removed, the body loses its primary source of estrogen, causing menopause symptoms to appear. Chemotherapy, on the other hand, can damage the ovaries, leading to early menopause.

And let me tell you, the symptoms of early menopause sound pretty scary. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness are just a few of the common symptoms that women experience. These symptoms can be distressing and affect your quality of life. But it's not just about the symptoms that occur at the time of early menopause. There are also long-term effects of being in menopause early, including an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Women who undergo early menopause may also have a higher risk of cognitive decline and depression.

So far I have been lucky and the symptoms have been frustrating & occasionally painful but manageable through trial and error of supplements, pain management and exercise.

So what can we do to manage these symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term effects? Well, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a popular option and involves taking estrogen and progesterone to replace the hormones lost during menopause. HRT can alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but it may not be suitable for women who have had breast cancer or ovarian cancer. If you have kept your uterus but not ovaries you will need to include progesterone in your treatment whereas if you have no uterus estrogen alone will help manage your symptoms. For women who cannot take HRT (that would be me), there are natural remedies available that can help manage symptoms. These remedies include exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. Some women also find relief from natural supplements such as black cohosh, soy, and flaxseed. Due to my tumour being estrogen receptor positive I was taken off HRT. The next day I panic bought various menopause supplements to navigate what I thought was going to hit me. I didn't actually find these made much difference to how I was feeling but through trial and error I found some ways to manage the side effects.

My most severe symptom has been joint aches and pains and pretty bad Achilles tendinopathy About 2 weeks after stopping the HRT I found that EVERYTHING in my body ached; elbows, legs, arms, neck etc. I felt like an 80 year old when I woke up in the morning and hobbled my way to make a cup of tea. I was short tempered and cranky as I was in constant pain. Luckily for both myself and my partner I happened upon a naturopath at my local market who recommended high dose tumeric, within two days I was feeling like a totally different person. That was 3 months ago and most aches and pains have now eased - except the achilles tendinopathy. I still take high dose tumeric and magnesium daily and have found exercise to be one of the most effective treatments to manage the pain. pilates and yoga make the most noticeable difference.

I have also been prescribed Estradiol to ward off any vaginal dryness and have started taking collagen gummies and a prescription retinoid to attempt to slow down any menopause induced aging.

Osteoporosis is a real concern for me now so I'm also taking preventative action with the aim of keeping that at bay as long as possible:

• I am aiming to include more foods in my diet that that support bone health and working with a dietitian with the aim of getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein each day.

• I aim to keep active and where possible hoose weight-bearing exercise, such as strength training, walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs, matt pilates or dancing.

• I never smoked but if you do quitting will give your bones the best chance of staying healthy

• I limit alcohol consumption, this is both to reduce my risk of a recurrence and to protect my bones.

But let's be real, managing menopause symptoms is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every woman's experience is unique, and it's important to work with your doctor to determine the best course of action for your individual needs. And let's not forget about the emotional aspect of menopause. It can be tough dealing with the changes that come with menopause, especially when it's brought on early due to cancer treatment. It's important to have a support system in place, whether that's friends, family, or a therapist.

So ladies, if you're dealing with surgical menopause or menopause brought on by cancer treatment, know that you're not alone. It can be tough, but there are treatments available to help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term effects. And remember, it's okay to ask for help and to lean on your support system during this time. There are many support systems in place for cancer survivors so talk to your GP or local cancer organisation (listed below) to find out what is available to you.

If you find yourself needing to talk to someone after reading this article you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or The Cancer Council on 13 11 20

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Shop To Help

FU Cancer Network is a passion project, but it comes with costs. Purchasing through the links below won’t cost you extra, but a small commission will help maintain the site and expand offerings. Not all products earn a commission, but if they do it helps me to keep this space alive for those who need it most.These are items I used myself, friends used or come highly recommended via other channels. I spent many hours researching what would help my skin, hair and mental health during treatment, you can benefit from that now and skip the research.

Some of these are thoughtful gifts to give to people you care about who are having treatment and some are to gift to yourself.

You'll probably notice there are some swearies in the titles of some books, because.... F cancer!

What The F*ck Just Happened. A Survivor's Guide to Life After Breast CancerClick To Purchase	The Cancer Survivor Handbook Your Guide to Building a Life After Cancer Click To Purchase
Chemo P!ssed Me Off. A Breast Cancer Roadmap: Navigating with Faith, Gratitude, and a Little Bit of AttitudeClick To Purchase	F*** You Cancer: How to face the big C, live your life and still be yourselfClick To Purchase
The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club: The most emotional, uplifting and life-affirming novel of summer 2023 Click To Purchase	Chemotherapy Journal Punch Cancer in the Face: Cancer Chemo Journal Click To Purchase
Clinique Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector. I messed up my skin (which you aren't going to do as you will ALWAYS wear sunscreen) and this cleared up the sunspots within a couple of weeks. I highly recommend for reducing blemishes & correcting skin tone and will continue to use it now I'm post chemo. Click To Purchase	Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream helps repair damaged, dry, cracked, and non-oozing skin in 48 hours. Skin is immediately soothed after the first application, and the cutaneous barrier is restored. In fact, all the Avene Products are worth considering when you have delicate skin from chemo.   Click To Purchase
Cancer Council Daywear SPF 50+ Light Tint BB Cream As above you are going to wear sunscreen every single day from now on and this is a great option. I apply this after my moisturiser and know I'm heading out with 50+ protection on my delicate facial skin. If I'd been doing this from the start I wouldn't have needed the Clinique! Check out other cancer council products at the link below. Click To Purchase	Hand Weights. Light weights for use when doing at home pilates If you are able to get to the gym maintaining muscle by using hand weights can be a simple way to workout at home. Click To Purchase
Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines. Anti-Slip. Beautiful yoga mat featuring alignment lines to assist you with the position of arms and legs. This helps with at home pilates or yoga by encouraging you to keep your body in balance with accurate posture for the best practice. Click To Purchase	Activity Tracker As exercise can help you with your cancer treatment and recovery now might be a great time to invest in a fitness tracker if you haven't already. The Fitbit (or similar) is a great option which encourages mindfulness plus tracks exercise and sleep. Click To Purchase
The Menopause Book If your treatment puts you into medical menopause this book with help you navigate this new phase in your life. Click To Purchase	Menopause Supplements If you need help managing hot flushes due to medical menopause some of these supplements may help rebalance your hormones. As with any supplements do not take these without consulting with your oncology team. Click To Purchase
Satin Head Scarfs Play around with head scarves to see what styles and colours suit you. This style was great for me when I lost most of my hair. Click To Purchase	UGG Slippers I was very lucky and only got a very small amount of neuropathy in my feet but I do feel the cold more now. During chemo I swapped my normal thongs around the house for Uggs to avoid the cold in my toes. It really does make a world of difference. Click To Purchase
Aromatherapy Diffusers A thoughtful gift for a loved one facing cancer is always welcomed. Diffusers offer a safe, convenient, and flame-free way to create a calming atmosphere. Gentle, long-lasting fragrances provide comfort and relaxation, making them a perfect gift for promoting peace and well-being. Click To Purchase	Rose Quartz Gifts Rose quartz is not only a beautiful gift for a loved one fighting cancer but some believe Rose quartz promotes love, healing, and emotional balance while reducing stress and anxiety with its calming energy—perfect for self-care and inner peace. There are a number of styles at the link below Click To Purchase
The Ordinary Multi Peptide Serum for Hair Density This hair growth serum is is designed to support hair health so that it looks thicker, denser, fuller and healthier. Be aware that it contains caffeine to stimulate the follicles so keep this for when you have finished chemo as it can actually have the opposite effect you are going for if you use it whilst undergoing treatment. Click To Purchase	Miracle Spray Hair Treatment I LOVE this product and was using it before chemo on recommendation from a friend. It is great to leave in after washing when you can't blow dry to help contain fluffiness from dried out chemo hair! Click To Purchase
TOPPIK Hair Building Fibers Toppik Hair Building Fibers, are made of colored keratin protein and it blends with existing hair strands to instantly create the appearance of naturally thick, full hair. I used this when my bald spot was at it's worse and I didn't want to wear a wig. I was skeptical about this product but it is honestly amazing how it works. Click To Purchase	Silk Pillow Cases Protect hair and skin during chemo with silk fabric pillowcases. During chemotherapy, silk pillowcases offer benefits like reduced friction, moisture retention, and a gentle surface for sensitive skin and hair, which can be particularly helpful during hair loss and regrowth.Perfect as a thoughtful gift for a loved one going through treatment Click To Purchase

Support Resources

Cancer Council Australia

CCA an organisation to support all Australians affected by cancer through support, research and prevention programs.

Ovarian Cancer Australia

OCA is an independent national not-for-profit organisation, supporting women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Our focus is to provide care and support for those affected by ovarian cancer; and represent them by leading change. Our vision is to save lives and ensure no woman with ovarian cancer walks alone.

Breast Cancer Network Australia

BCNA Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is Australia’s leading breast cancer consumer organisation. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that all Australians who are affected by breast cancer receive the very best care, treatment and support.

Bowel Cancer Australia

BCA Peer-to-Peer Support Network connects patient’s and loved ones on a one-to-one buddy basis that enables members to give and receive advice about their bowel cancer experience in an informal and mutually beneficial way.

Leukaemia Foundation

LF is a support service for patients and supporters dealing with blood cancers.

*FU Cancer is supported by its audience. If you choose to purchase through the links on our site we may receive an affiliate commission. This goes towards paying our expenses plus a percentage of our monthly profit goes towards directly helping people with cancer. If you know someone who could do with a boost during their cancer treatment please let us know here.

*FU Cancer is supported by its audience. If you choose to purchase through the links on our site we may receive an affiliate commission. This goes towards paying our expenses plus a percentage of our monthly profit goes towards directly helping people with cancer. If you know someone who could do with a boost during their cancer treatment please let us know here.