Menopause, Cancer & Me
Cancer treatments
In healthcare, all treatments come with risks. For some, these include the potential to cause menopause or make symptoms worse.
Patients and healthcare professionals should consider the level of benefit gained from treatment against the potential side effects
On this page, we look at...
Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy
Pelvic radiotherapy
Surgical removal of ovaries
Hormone therapy
1. Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT)
This term describes cancer treatments that use medicines to find and fight cancer cells. Taken as a tablet or given through a drip, SACT helps to stop the cancer from growing or spreading.
The impacts of systemic anti-cancer therapies vary considerably, depending on the person and the treatment. There is a wide range of symptoms with a lot of overlap across different treatments.
“Anyone who is struggling with their symptoms should discuss their treatment and symptom management with their clinical team.”
Chemotherapy
Biological therapy/ Immunotherapy
Endocrine therapy
2. Pelvic radiotherapy
This type of treatment uses high energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It can cause menopause by damaging the ovaries, even when they are not the intended target of the therapy.
Bladder problems
These can be worsened by menopause, or they can increase the effects of symptoms.
Vaginal symptoms
Include vaginal narrowing, shortening and changes to the skin inside the vagina.
For vaginal symptoms, treatment options can include...
- Pelvic trainers
- Vulval skincare
-
Management of
continence issues
- Lubricants
- Moisturisers
- Oestrogens
3. Surgical removal of ovaries
This term refers to an operation that takes away the ovaries, either on its own or as part of a bigger operation, resulting in sudden menopause.
Ovarian cancer
There are a variety of reasons for this kind of surgery, including ovarian cancer and the risk that cancer may have spread to the ovaries. There are times when surgery is chosen to remove the hormones produced by the ovaries to improve the outlook for the patient's cancer treatment.
Treatment options
Not everyone who has surgical menopause will need treatment, but there are treatment options available. What can be offered and advised will depend on symptoms, the type of cancer, and other factors, such as other medical conditions and age.
Removal of ovaries
If a patient is not already in natural menopause, surgical removal of the ovaries means they suddenly enter menopause. Some people might find their symptoms are more severe as a result. Removal of ovaries can also lead to lower sex drive, though there are lots of other factors to consider.
Hormone replacement
Some people might be actively encouraged to go on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), such as young cervical or colonic cancer survivors, while others will be advised against it and directed towards other treatment options for their symptoms.
Everyone's experience of surgical menopause is different. Seek guidance and support if you need help to manage your symptoms effectively.
4. Hormone therapies
Used to target cancers that rely on hormones to grow, such as breast and prostate cancers, hormone therapies either block the body's ability to produce hormones, or interfere with how hormones behave within the body.
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