Campaign calls for menopause support in cancer care

Campaigners are urging menopause support to be included in cancer treatment plans after a survey found 90 per cent of patients were given no guidance.

The survey of 1,200 people revealed most had no support for managing menopausal changes triggered by treatment.

The research was carried out by Menopause and Cancer, whose founder and CEO Dani Binnington said the results were “not a surprise.”

Many cancer treatments, particularly those for breast cancer, can cause early or sudden menopause by affecting hormones or ovarian function.

Binnington said there is currently no direct pathway for support in care plans.

She said: “We call for improved training for healthcare professionals, better access to therapies and specialist care so people can manage menopause safely and effectively.”

Binnington, from Thames Ditton, Surrey, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33.

Her treatment brought on early menopause at 39, leading her to set up the charity to support patients and run workshops for healthcare professionals.

Rachel Bowman, director of Menopause and Cancer, from Brighton, East Sussex, was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 46 while on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopause symptoms.

She received a management plan only after being diagnosed again in 2023.

She said: “Support teams who have this specific experience is very patchy.”

Dr Carys Sonnenberg, a GP and menopause specialist from Surrey, said oncology had historically focused on treating and surviving cancer, with “less attention to long-term quality of life issues including menopause.”

“Oncology, gynaecology, and primary care may not always coordinate well, so patients can fall between the cracks,” she added.

Dr Sonnenberg said menopause care should be integrated into treatment plans from the outset.

Menopause and Cancer also runs workshops for healthcare professionals to equip them with the knowledge to support patients experiencing treatment-induced menopause, addressing the lack of joined-up care pathways.