The Menopause and Cancer Podcast

Has anyone here experienced raised cholesterol levels as a result of menopause since cancer treatment or as a result of being on an aromatase inhibitor? I’m horrified that so many of us are getting high cholesterol and nobody has warned us this may be something to look out for.  In this episode, I invite longevity dietician Barbie Boule onto the show to discuss the topic of cholesterol, parti...

Thank you to The Better Menopause for sponsoring this episode.  Can’t fall asleep? Waking up in the middle of the night? Can cancer treatment-induced menopause cause you sleep issues? Do you have insomnia? Dr. Zoe Schaedel, a sleep and menopause expert, discusses the impact of cancer and menopause on sleep and offers insights into managing sleep problems.  Sleep disturbances are common a...

The sixth episode in the HRT after breast cancer series features Lisa Colclough and Helen Widner, two breast cancer patients who decided to go down two very different routes. Helen decided to start testosterone pellet therapy whilst being on aromatase inhibitors, whilst Lisa decided to restart her HRT soon after her breast cancer treatment.  This mini-series explores hormone replacement thera...

The fifth episode in the HRT after breast cancer series features Tamzin, who many years after her breast cancer treatment for a hormone receptor-positive cancer decided to take HRT.  Tamzin Rasmussen, a psychologist and psychotherapist from Australia has been proactive in participating in her medical treatments. Tamzin explores her decision to pursue hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after br...

The fourth episode in the HRT after breast cancer series features Dr. Louise Newson, who has faced criticism for her willingness to prescribe HRT to breast cancer patients. At the same time, she has been described as a lifesaver by many of the women she treats. Dr. Louise Newson is a GP who has transformed the landscape for menopausal women worldwide. She became a member of the Royal College of Ph...

The third episode in the HRT after breast cancer series features Dr. Tina Peers who discusses her decision to take HRT after her own breast cancer diagnosis and the decision-making process involved when prescribing it to patients.  Dr. Tina Peers is a women's health specialist who began her career as a general practitioner in the early 80s. She became a Consultant in Contraception and Reprodu...

The second episode in the HRT after breast cancer series features oncologist Prof. Richard Simcock who will discuss potential pathways for using HRT after breast cancer despite the lack of robust data. Prof Simcock is a consultant clinical oncologist at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, where he provides clinical care to people with breast cancer. He is also the consultant medical...

The first episode of the HRT after breast cancer series features oncologist Dr. Leila Agrawal, who discusses the evidence, studies, and trials regarding HRT for breast cancer patients. Dr. Laila Agrawal is a medical oncologist and haematologist specialising in treating breast cancer patients. She is involved in research and clinical trials and she strives to get to know every patient and learn wha...

Does this resonate?  “I am at that awkward stage where my old self is gone but my new self hasn’t fully been born”. This episode is crucial. We're not here to solve a single symptom, but to tackle a deeper issue many of us face. I get it — many of us long for our pre-cancer lives. But I believe we can aim for something even better. It's not just about easing physical symptoms or trying to rec...

On today’s episode two fabulous ladies from our community, Caroline Trend and Lucy Pedrick, discuss their experiences with menopause after cancer treatment. They highlight the lack of information and support they received from healthcare professionals and the challenges of navigating the healthcare system. They share their top tips on managing tamoxifen side effects and they emphasise the need for...

Have you ever wondered how hormones affect your skin? Has your skin’s appearance changed since cancer treatment and since menopause? Feel like a prune? Oh gosh, I dislike this phrase but I know what they mean! We have an amazing expert on the show today, Dr. Mandy Leonhardt is a menopause specialist and author of two books. She has done all the research for you and read hundreds of papers and stud...

Join us in this lively and beautiful episode as we sit down with Dublin-based comedienne Anne Gildea. Currently in her third year of touring the hit solo show "How to Get The Menopause and Enjoy It," Anne is also the author of her memoir, "I’ve Got Cancer, What’s Your Excuse?”. Anne is accompanying Dr. Louise Newson on her UK tour, “Hormones and Menopause – The Great Debate”. In this episode, we e...

Endocrine disruptors, such as chemicals in plastics, can disrupt the oestrogen receptors in our bodies and affect our health. Not in a good way! We all need to know about this. Your body and endocrine system has already been disrupted through cancer treatment and the menopause. We mustn’t overload it even more.  Bruce Blumberg, a professor of Developmental and Cell Biology at the University o...

Leanne Pero is a remarkable woman who received an MBE from Prince William for her exceptional charity work with Black Women Rising. I had no idea of the challenges black women face when navigating cancer and I also had no idea that Leanne receives so much trolling for her exceptional work. It shows my ignorance and I am here to learn.  Leanne shares with us how we can each start to champion o...

Research shows that only 4% of cancer survivors meet lifestyle recommendations. Dietician and board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition Krystle Zuniga discusses what these lifestyle recommendations are with us on the show today.  Have you been told what they are? For solutions, of how we can help the 96% that currently don’t follow the recommendations that could potentially reduce thei...

Since when did we think we all have to thrive as well as just getting through a tough time? In today’s episode, I speak to Henny Flynn, a therapeutic coach and host of the Henny Flynn podcast about self-compassion strategies and self-coaching techniques that can support us. We talk:  - glimmers  - making space for the joy and the pain and please join me in imagining myself naked in front...

In this insightful episode, Sam Evans and I discuss the challenges women face in maintaining intimacy and sexual pleasure during menopause and cancer. Sam provides practical advice on self-exploration, communication, and using sex toys to enhance sexual experiences. And we have a great starting point (discount code for you!). It is not just about penis-in-vagina sex! Oh no.  The conversation...

In today’s episode, we dive into your bowel health. How do chemotherapy, surgery, medication, and menopause affect our bowel health? What should we look out for? And what are some top tips to improve it? We are joined by Dr Julie Cornish, a consultant colorectal surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Dr Cornish has a specialist interest in pelvic floor and women’s health and is cu...

Empowering you to transform your life.  Did you know that there are 34 randomised control trials (the golden standard of trials!) to show the incredible health benefits that yoga has for cancer survivors? Research tells us that the impact of yoga on the quality of life for cancer survivors ranged from moderate to high! That’s a lot more than many medications you might have prescribed to you!...

Menopause sneaks in as an uninvited and unwelcome guest to a house already dealing with so much. Join me, a whole group of women in our community and life coach Sanela Lukanovic for this interactive session. - How do we allow ourselves to feel when it’s all very scary? - Emotions - friends or foes? Uncover what blocks you from feeling all your feelings. - How to deal with anger, overwhelm and sham...

Breast speciality oncologist Dr Claire Macaulay from Glasgow helps us understand how we can navigate difficult treatment decisions. Many women say that being on a long-term anti-hormone treatment such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors is much harder than chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery altogether. On this podcast we are also joined by a group of our community to give them an opportunit...

I wanted to find out what it’s like, going from being a breast cancer surgeon who knew nothing about the menopause, to a breast cancer patient who was put into the menopause? Many of you will know the brilliant Dr. Liz O’Riordan who is very active on social media talking about her own experience of cancer whilst also helping educate her followers on how best to navigate a cancer journey. In today’...

Ep 103 - Joint Ache SOS Joint ache after cancer treatment can happen for various reasons. Low oestrogen levels or side effects of medication can be the cause. Joint pain can significantly affect daily activities and diminish overall quality of life, making it challenging for you to do the things you once enjoyed doing. You might feel very frustrated that you have completed cancer treatment and now...

In this episode, Andrea Martin, a women’s health nurse practitioner helps us to take the sexual health chat to the next level. Why you really need to know about clitoral adhesions, these are like scar tissue that forms around the clitoris. Our host Dani had never heard of this before and we have spoken a lot about sexual health on our episodes here! We also talk about medical options to help with...

A huge thank you to our partners Oxford Hormone Clinic for helping us get this episode out to all of you! Their support means so much to us. All their details are in the show notes below.  Ever wondered if collagen is safe for you?  There is a lot of talk about collagen out there and some people say it really helps them with their skin, joints and even energy levels. And then we hear sto...