Calls Grow for Integrated Menopause Support for Cancer Patients
London, UK – Cancer patients experiencing menopause, often triggered or exacerbated by treatment, are falling through teh cracks in healthcare, advocates say, as calls mount for routine menopause management to be integrated into cancer care plans. Women diagnosed with cancer are increasingly speaking out about a lack of support navigating perimenopause and menopause symptoms alongside their cancer journey.
Rachel Bowman,49,of Brighton,East Sussex,and director of the charity Menopause and Cancer,was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 46 while undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopause. She wasn’t offered a menopause management plan until a cancer recurrence in 2023. Her experience, echoed by others, highlights a critical gap in care for a growing number of patients.”Support teams who have this specific experience is very patchy,” Bowman stated.
The issue stems from a ancient focus within oncology on cancer treatment and survival, with less emphasis on long-term quality of life issues like menopause, according to Dr. Carys Sonnenberg,a GP and menopause specialist from Surrey. This disconnect between oncology, gynaecology, and primary care often leaves patients without the coordinated support they need. Kent resident Penny Giles-McLoughlin, 54, diagnosed with breast cancer at 50, similarly reported a lack of guidance on managing menopause symptoms induced by her cancer treatment.
Dr. Sonnenberg argues that proactive menopause care should be a standard component of cancer care plans from the outset. The need for integrated support is underscored by the rising incidence of cancer diagnoses in women of perimenopausal and menopausal age,and the known impact of cancer treatments – such as chemotherapy,surgery,and hormone therapies – on accelerating or inducing menopause. Menopause and Cancer, founded by Dani Billington, is working to raise awareness and advocate for improved care pathways for those navigating both conditions together.
