Women who have undergone cancer treatment are calling for better support and information regarding the abrupt onset of menopause, describing the experience as more challenging than the treatment itself. Advocacy groups say many patients are left unprepared for the physical and emotional toll of treatment-induced menopause.
Patients report sudden and severe symptoms
Jo Menneer, a 55-year-old volunteer from East Yorkshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. Before her diagnosis, she was using hormonal replacement therapy to manage her menopause. However, the surgery required for her cancer treatment forced her to stop the medication, leading to an immediate return of symptoms.
Menneer described the experience as a shock. She noted that alongside the gruelling recovery from surgery, she faced hot flushes, aching limbs, brain fog, and emotional instability. She stated that she felt as though she had gone back in time by a decade, a sentiment she says was never discussed with her medical team before treatment began.
Claire Hurst, 53, from West Yorkshire, faced a similar situation. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 and received medication that rapidly induced menopause. Hurst, who now runs the Rebalance Clinic, described the shift as “really, really challenging” because there was no gradual adjustment period. While she praised her oncology team, she said she felt left to manage the menopause symptoms on her own after treatment ended.
Advocacy groups highlight a gap in care
Danni Binnington, founder of the non-profit Menopause and Cancer, said the abrupt nature of the shift is what makes it so jarring for patients. Her organization conducted a survey in 2025 of 1,300 respondents. The results showed that less than half were aware their specific cancer treatment could induce menopause. Furthermore, 98% of respondents felt there should be more support from healthcare professionals for menopause following treatment.
Binnington said many patients feel lonely and desperate. She added that navigating menopause after cancer is often worse than the cancer treatment itself. The organization is running a Call for Change campaign to push for more information about the possible impacts of cancer treatment. They argue that knowledge is power and that patients should not have to sit in a “big black hole” of uncertainty.
Menneer volunteers with Menopause and Cancer and helps run a support group in York. She described the community as life-changing, allowing women to connect with others in similar situations. She emphasized that any information offered should be available from the start of the treatment journey and tailored to each individual.
Government response and future plans
The Department of Health and Social Care stated that its National Cancer Plan would ensure patients have a personalized plan. This plan is designed to recognize and build the long-term effects of treatment, including menopause, into ongoing care. A spokesperson said no woman should feel left without support after cancer treatment.
The government also highlighted its Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, which focuses on menopause as a core priority. The plan includes providing every cancer patient with a named clinical nurse specialist to help manage these long-term effects.
Despite these government assurances, advocates like Hurst argue that more “joined-up thinking” is needed between different organizations. She believes that post-treatment follow-on programs should provide access to good resources. When people understand what is happening to their bodies, they feel empowered rather than isolated.
Menneer hopes that a toolkit signposting relevant services will become the standard. She said that if patients are empowered to pick the services that suit them, it would be the perfect scenario. For now, groups like Menopause and Cancer continue to fill the gap, offering support to those who did not receive it during their initial treatment.
Source: BBC
