Cancer survivor from Newcastle calls for post-treatment menopause support
Research shows patients are being left in the dark to manage menopause-related changes after treatment
A cancer survivor from Newcastle-under-Lyme says too many patients aren't being supported with side-effects post-treatment like the menopause.
New research from the non-profit organisation Menopause and Cancer reveals the stark reality that patients are not being warned, supported, or cared for when it comes to treatment-induced menopause.
The data shows that 99% of women affected believe better support must be provided, as treatment-induced menopause can be abrupt, severe, and life-changing.
Ellie Waters-Barnes, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, was diagnosed with the soft-tissue cancer rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 14. A year or so later, her treatment and chemotherapy triggered early menopause - and with it a series of severe, life-changing symptoms.
"Memory problems. Brain fog. I wasn't able to sit for long periods because it was just too sore. I had really terrible night sweats. I just felt like an 18 year old in a 80 year old woman's body.
"It's been hard for me to even define myself as a woman because I can't do alot of the things a normal woman can. It's definitely been a journey and a process for me to feel comfortable and accept myself.
"When I got told I was menopausal the oncologist didn't really say much else. So to me, I thought oh I've got no periods, I'm infertile anyway, that's fine by me - but I didn't know all the horrible symptoms you can get with the menopause.
"It wasn't given the importance it deserved. I was just put me on HRT and said you'll be fine. I really wish my oncologist would have referred me to a menopause specialist."
A survey of over 1,200 women, analysed by UCLH menopause specialist Dr Vikram Talaulikar, shows:
• More than 90% received no plan to manage menopause-related changes from cancer treatment
• Only 1% had clear guidance
• Three in four got little or no information about how treatment could affect hormone health or fertility
• 99% believe better support is urgently needed
• 95% said their clinical teams did not appear to have up-to-date knowledge on managing menopause after cancer
Unlike natural and perimenopause, cancer treatment-induced menopause can happen overnight, be more severe, last for years, and affect women at any age, even in their 20s and 30s. Survivors report symptoms that significantly impact quality of life, with three-quarters saying menopause was worse than the cancer treatment itself. Fewer treatment options are available due to the type of cancer.
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