Some cancer treatments can cause an early or temporary menopause. Whilst all women will go through menopause, a sudden menopause (due to cancer treatment) can cause more severe symptoms.
Cancer Treatment &
Menopause
Can cancer treatment bring on menopause?
The symptoms of early menopause from cancer treatment can last several years and they can change with time. Treatments may also impact fertility. Some cancer treatments may only temporarily bring on menopause, speak to your doctor if you are experiencing menopause symptoms after cancer treatment. [1]
Studies have found that anywhere from 0-40% of women under the age 40 go into permanent menopause as a result of chemotherapy, while 70-90% of women over 40 do. [2]
Cancer Treatments that can cause early menopause include:
- Surgery to remove the ovaries
- Radiotherapy to the pelvis
- Drugs that block or lower the amount of hormones in the body (hormone therapy)
- Chemotherapy [3]
References: [1] Cancer Research [2] Breast Cancer.org [3] Cancer Research
The stats: Cancer treatment and early menopause
Common
Symptoms
As a result of cancer treatment,
you may experience some
common symptoms of menopause
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flushes
- Irregular periods or periods that are heavier or lighter than usual
- Night sweats and/or cold flashes
- Urinary urgency
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings anxiety, brain fog or mild depression)
- Breast tenderness
- Hair loss
Symptoms taken from GenM
- Acne and skin changes
- Bloating
- Decreased fertility
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches and migraines
- Joint pain
- Muscle tension
- Weight gain
- Reduced sex drive
- Thinning hair
- Worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Dani Binnington
on her experience with menopause and cancer
Danni Binnington
On her experince with menopause and cancer
Dani Binnington is a patient's advocate and voice for women in menopause after cancer as well as a cancer survivor herself. She hosts the world's only podcast on Menopause and Cancer and is the founder of The Menopause and Cancer CIC, a non-for-profit organisation aiming to educate women on their options. Dani’s lifestyle platform Healthy Whole Me offers yoga classes, delicious recipes, stress-busting events and oodles of inspiration for an empowered wellbeing experience.
Menopause after cancer
The menopause conversation is really growing. But there’s something that isn’t so widely discussed – menopause after cancer.
Menopause after cancer is a totally different ballgame. People in the cancer community often feel excluded from the wider menopause conversation which can leave women feeling isolated, confusedand fearful.
Depending on the kind of cancer you had, you may have heard that HRT is not a treatment option. So, you’re left on your own, dealing with a double whammy of menopause symptoms and the loneliness and anxiety that can follow cancer treatment.
Menopause after cancer
The menopause conversation is really growing. But there’s something that isn’t so widely discussed – menopause after cancer. Menopause after cancer is a totally different ballgame. People in the cancer community often feel excluded from the wider menopause conversation which can leave women feeling isolated, confused and fearful.
Depending on the kind of cancer you had, you may have heard that HRT is not a treatment option. So, you’re left on your own, dealing with a double whammy of menopause symptoms and the loneliness and anxiety that can follow cancer treatment.
Menopause after cancer really is the hidden menopause.
Menopause after cancer really is the hidden menopause.
Here's my 5 point manifesto for dealing with menopause after cancer:
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5
- 1. Talk about it
Let’s start opening up about it so we all realise we’re not alone. That can be a game-changer. We often feel we should not moan as time goes on from our initial treatment, but it important we say it as it is! Besides, if we don’t speak up, our healthcare teams won’t know we need help either.
2. Educate yourself
I always say that we need to educate each other so we all feel more empowered going through this. A good place to start from is my The Menopause And Cancer Podcast. Each week we hear from the most incredible guest experts on all topics of menopause and cancer and it is a fabulous resource for anyone going through this.
3. Track your symptoms
Find an online tool or take out your notepad and pen to track your symptoms. It can be hard to know what is menopause related and what is life, post cancer treatment or something else. Jotting down your symptoms can give you a sense of control but on a more practical basis, it can also help you talk to your doctor about your symptoms without having to look back and try to remember them. I recommend printing out your results to take to an appointment.
4. Ask to see a specialist
As menopause care after cancer is usually more complex, you should be seen by a menopause specialist. Ask your healthcare team to refer you. You can find a link to all specialists on the British Menopause Society website. Top tip: You can be referred outside of the borough that you live in!
5. Persist with your healthcare team
Managing menopause after a cancer diagnosis may be more challenging and require more bespoke care, but it’s absolutely possible to do something about your symptoms. Your symptoms will also change over time so don’t be afraid to go back to your oncology nurse or GP. You’re not a bother!
In my experience, below are some of the key reasons menopause after cancer is so different.
You have sudden menopause symptoms
Going through menopause due to cancer treatment often means it happens very suddenly and symptoms can be more severe. Us cancer survivors don’t get the gradual hormone changes that cause perimenopausal symptoms over the course of a few years – it’s more that our bodies have quit hormones cold turkey, plunging us into menopause suddenly and intensely. It can be very scary sitting at home on your own after cancer treatment’s finished, wondering whether these symptoms are down to menopause, side effects of treatment or even cancer itself. On top of all that, menopausal hormone changes can trigger low mood and anxiety – which can make everything that much harder to cope with.
You may have to cope with fertility loss
If you’re under 45 and still having periods, cancer treatment can bring on an early menopause - so you end up going through it long before 51, the average age a woman’s periods stop. This leaves you having to cope with the premature loss of your fertility after grueling cancer treatment, which can be especially painful if you wanted children and haven’t had them. Even if you don’t want children or you’ve completed your family, losing your fertility early can still be very confronting.
Blog: Menopause after hysterectomy
Blog: Sex after
cancer
Blog: Managing vaginal dryness post cancer treatment
Relieve Vaginal Dryness from Menopause and Cancer Treatment
A recent study by the British Menopause Society [1] on the management of oestrogen deficiency symptoms in women treated for breast cancer advises that the first-line treatment for vaginal dryness should be a vaginal moisturiser or lubricant. This should be offered to patients before any other treatments are considered.
The BMS also recommends that the moisturiser or lubricant given should not contain parabens due to their weak oestrogenic activity. To resolve vaginal dryness without hormones or synthetic chemicals means that firstly the dry tissues need to be rehydrated by the regular use of a water-based moisturiser, and secondly, restoring intimacy will often require the use of an intimate lubricant that offers superior, long-lasting, non-sticky glide.
Only certified organic and natural YES® VM Vaginal Moisturiser, YES® WB water-based have the dual function of deep rehydration and outstanding lubrication. YES® OB is deeply nourishing and long-lasting offering soothing relief from vaginal dryness. When finding the right ingredients to protect your intimate health are vital to you, our certified organic status is your reassuring guarantee.
[1] British menopause society study.
YES® Products: Relieving menopausal vaginal dryness
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How YES® is different from other vaginal moisturisers and lubricants
With YES®, you have confidence in natural plant-based products that contain:
- No Hormones / no parabens (that are thought to act like oestrogen in the body)
- No Glycerine / no sugar (that can cause Thrush outbreaks)
- No Petrochemicals (such as Parabens, Glycols) that can irritate and smother skin hindering it from absorbing moisture and healing
- No Silicone (acts like a barrier on the skin, preventing rehydration and increasing dryness)
- No L-Arginine (can trigger Herpes outbreaks in carriers)
- YES® WB & YES® VM are both pH matched to restore and maintain the typical, slightly acidic, vaginal environment. This ensures you retain your natural protection against thrush.
- YES® WB & VM are recommended by a wide range of healthcare professionals and are available on NHS prescription (YES® WB is available on the NHS as YES® water-based vaginal lubricant).
- Check our 100% satisfaction guarantee policy
Communities and resources
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