Gloucester woman urging more awareness on menopause brought on by cancer treatment
Jenny Costelloe, from Gloucester, has described her symptoms of the menopause as "worse than the cancer treatment itself"
A recent survey of 1,280 cancer survivors in the UK has revealed that menopause caused by cancer treatment can hit abruptly, be more intense, and last longer than natural menopause, affecting women in their 20s and 30s as well as those in midlife.
The study, conducted between May and September 2025, highlights major gaps in support for patients.
A Gloucestershire woman, whose cancer treatment brought on the menopause, is urging for medical professionals to better prepare women for things like this happening.
50-year-old Jenny Costelloe was diagnosed with breast cancer in spring 2024. Since then, she has undergone 4 surgeries and chemotherapy.
Although her cancer treatment is now complete, Jenny has also had to start medically-induced menopause as part of her ongoing care. She has described the symptoms of menopause as worse than the cancer treatment itself:
"All you want is to feel healthy and well, but the lack of guidance around menopause leaves you feeling somewhat cheated—suddenly faced with a whole new set of unexplained symptoms that no one warned you about."
More than 9 in 10 respondents reported receiving no plan to manage menopause-related changes after their treatment.
Only one per cent recalled receiving clear guidance, while three-quarters said they had little or no information on the impact of treatment on hormones or fertility.
Meanwhile, 95 per cent felt their clinical teams lacked current knowledge on the topic, and 99 per cent said better support is urgently needed.
Options for relief are often limited by cancer type, and for women who had to pause hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or non-hormonal treatments, accessing expert guidance on resuming treatment safely can be “almost impossible.”