As if cancer hasn’t thrown enough at you already, you might find yourself navigating one of cancer treatment's biggest side effects for women: early menopause. Cancer treatment can induce menopause, abruptly putting a stop to your fertile and reproductive years long before you may naturally enter this process.
Experiencing menopause before your ‘natural’ time can have a huge effect on your mental wellbeing. It can be isolating and lonely facing menopause and infertility when peers are having children and are 10 - 20 years behind in the process we find ourselves plunged into.
Being menopausal challenges our sense of identity, perception of femininity, and sexuality; acknowledging and processing this is part of the post-cancer grieving process.
What cancer treatments can cause menopause?
Cancer treatments that can cause temporary or permanent menopause include:
- Surgery to remove your ovaries
- Chemotherapy
- Hormonal or anti-estrogen treatments
- Pelvic radiotherapy
- Bone marrow / Stem cell transplants
Your medical team will talk to you about whether the treatment for your cancer will cause temporary or permanent menopause.
What are the signs and symptoms of menopause after cancer?
The symptoms of menopause may be more pronounced in women who have the unique battle of early menopause as a result of cancer treatment.
There are 34 main symptoms of menopause that are the same for all women and will vary from person to person. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness / atrophy
- Brain fog / difficulty concentrating
- UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections)
- Loss of libido
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety or depression
- Joint / muscle pain
- Headaches / Migraines
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
- Reduced confidence
- Tinnitus
- Changes to hair, skin and nails
- Weakened pelvic floor
- Increased allergies
It can be difficult to know if symptoms you are experiencing are a result of cancer treatment, a cancer recurrence or induced menopause, as there are crossovers. Keeping a diary of symptoms allows you to identify any areas of concern and confidently approach your medical team.
Why is it important to get help for menopause symptoms?
Early menopause is not just hot flashes and being anxious. A dramatic drop in estrogen is linked to long-term health risks which need to be taken seriously. Early menopause, without treatment or monitoring, can increase your long term risk of developing:
- Osteoporosis
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Dementia / Cognitive impairment
With these health concerns in mind, it is important to get advice on managing menopause symptoms and your future health from your oncology team and a menopause practitioner.
There are many medical options available to manage symptoms and reduce health risks that you may be more prone to developing in the future. Hormone therapy is often the first-line treatment for symptoms, but this will be done in consultation with your medical team as treating menopause after cancer can be more complicated.
While Menopause Hormonal Therapy (MHT) can be a game-changer for millions, caution needs to be taken as taking combined MHT (estrogen and a synthetic progestogen) may be associated with a small risk of developing breast cancer (Source). Your oncologist or menopause practitioner will be able to help you understand your risks and discuss the best course of action to take.
Talk to your doctor before taking any medication or alternative remedies as they may interfere with current medications or increase your risks of developing other health conditions.
What products can I use to relieve menopause symptoms?
If you're a young woman going through cancer treatment, your doctor may or may not have prepared you for chemo-induced-menopause. For anyone experiencing early onset menopause, we have the list for you!
Explore '8 Must Haves for Chemo Induced Menopause' on OneVillage.
5 Ways to Transform Your Cancer Induced Menopause Journey
Reading as much as you can on the subject will help educate and empower you to guide your medical team towards solutions rather than being guided by them. The North American Menopause Society has great resources, as does Dr Louise Newson, a leader in menopause care.
It can feel overwhelming knowing where to start navigating your menopause journey, but it’s important to know there are holistic changes you can make to help transform your own journey. Remember, knowledge is power, and despite everything you have heard about ‘the change’, it is possible to thrive!
1. Eat a Healthy Balanced Diet
A healthy balanced diet, based on the Mediterranean diet, is essential for providing your body with what it needs for general good health. Getting enough calcium (1,200-1,500 milligrams) and vitamin D (400 IU) every day will help improve your bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Limiting or cutting out alcohol, caffeine, or foods prepared with hot peppers or chilies can help calm anxiety, improve sleep, and reduce the severity of hot flashes. Keep a diary to understand your individual triggers!
2. Movement is Medicine
Exercise can improve anxiety, reduce aches and pains, and has huge benefits for heart and bone health. Aim for 150-300 minutes of moderate exercise per week for serious health benefits. Something like yoga combines exercise and meditation and is proven to reduce menopause symptoms, including night sweats, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances. Exercise helps you find joy and vitality, so choose something that you enjoy for that extra endorphin and confidence boost!
3. Lower Stress and Anxiety
Cortisol can trigger a lot of issues that make living with lower hormone levels feel unbearable. Mindfulness is an effective resource for bringing your thoughts back in line during anxious moments. The North American Menopause Society recommends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an effective non-hormonal treatment for lowering stress and anxiety associated with menopause symptoms including anxiety, hot flashes and night sweats.
4. Prioritize Sleep
Making sure you get 7- 8 hours of rest a night ensures that your body and mind are getting enough time to recharge. Have a consistent routine of when you go to bed and wake up. Keeping your bedroom at a cool temperature and sleeping in natural, breathable fabrics, such as bamboo, will help with any night sweats. You may want to avoid caffeine and alcohol as these are stimulants that can disrupt your sleep routine.
5. Don’t Suffer in Silence
Half the population will go through menopause and society needs to start getting comfortable talking about it! I know menopause symptoms can be embarrassing, but finding the confidence to speak to your medical team about treatments could release you from years of potential suffering. Be honest with friends, family, and your workplace about what you are going through and communicate how they can better support you.
You might find talking to others experiencing menopause after cancer helps you feel less alone; join our One Villages community to help you navigate this next part of your journey.
Menopause after cancer is a marathon, not a sprint.
No remedy will work overnight, so give different strategies long enough to see if they have a positive impact on your symptoms. The average duration of menopausal symptoms is 7 years, so you have time to experiment and implement a plan of action that can benefit your health and wellbeing long after you stop being menopausal.
Celebrate your strengths, focus on the positives and release yourself from traditional stereotypes of what menopause should ‘look’ or ‘feel like’. Being menopausal may form another unexpected chapter in your post-cancer life, but it does not have to define who you are.
