Campaign to include menopause support in cancer care plans gains momentum
Survey finds 90% of 1,200 respondents were not provided menopause management plans; advocates urge integrated care from diagnosis
Campaigners are urging that menopause support be built into cancer treatment care plans after a survey found significant gaps in care. The charity Menopause and Cancer surveyed 1,200 people who have undergone cancer treatment, and about 90% said they were not provided with menopause management plans as part of their care. NHS England has been approached for comment.
The survey results come as campaigners argue that menopause care should be a standard, cross-disciplinary component of cancer treatment from the outset. The charity said there is currently no direct pathway for menopause treatment support included in cancer care plans, a gap they say leaves patients without formal guidance on how to manage menopause-related health changes brought on by cancer therapies. Dani Billington, founder of Menopause and Cancer, noted that the outcome was not surprising given the historical emphasis on treating the cancer itself rather than long-term quality of life issues. "We call for improved training for healthcare professionals, better access to therapies and specialist care so people can manage menopause safely and effectively," she said. Billington, who lives in Thames Ditton, Surrey, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33 and began experiencing early menopause at 39; she subsequently established the charity to support patients and to run workshops that aim to improve knowledge among healthcare professionals.
Rachel Bowman, from Brighton, East Sussex, was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 46 and later received hormone therapy to help alleviate perimenopause symptoms. Now 49 and the director of Menopause and Cancer, she said she was only given a menopause management plan after her cancer returned in 2023. "Support teams who have this specific experience is very patchy," she said, underscoring the uneven level of guidance available to patients navigating menopause amid cancer treatment.
Penny Giles-McLoughlin, a Kent resident aged 54, shared a similar experience, saying she was not provided with guidance on how to manage menopause caused by cancer treatment after her diagnosis at 50. Her account reflects the concerns raised by clinicians and patient advocates about the lack of coordinated care across specialties.
Dr Carys Sonnenberg, a GP and menopause specialist based in Surrey, said the problem is not new: historically the oncology sector has prioritized cancer treatment and survival, with less attention paid to long-term quality-of-life issues such as menopause. "Oncology, gynaecology, and primary care may not always coordinate well, so patients can fall between the cracks," she explained. Sonnenberg added that menopause care should be built into cancer care plans from the start, ensuring patients receive consistent guidance and access to appropriate therapies.
The discussion around integrating menopause support into cancer care plans has drawn attention to the broader need for cross-specialty collaboration within the National Health Service. Advocates argue that addressing menopause as part of survivorship planning could improve not only symptom management but also overall recovery and long-term health outcomes for people treated for cancer.
The charity Menopause and Cancer, which was formed to address these gaps, runs workshops aimed at equipping healthcare professionals with better knowledge and resources to support patients experiencing menopause-related changes during and after cancer treatment. While NHS England has not yet issued formal policy guidance, supporters say that embedding menopause care into cancer care plans would require changes in training, service pathways, and funding to ensure consistent, multidisciplinary support across oncology, gynecology, and primary care.
As the debate over integrated care continues, patient advocates stress that the issue affects thousands of people who survive cancer each year and may face ongoing health and quality-of-life challenges related to menopause. The group emphasizes that early, proactive management can reduce risks associated with untreated menopause symptoms and help patients maintain their well-being during the survivorship phase.
The calls for action come at a time when clinicians and researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of holistic cancer care. For Dani Billington and others involved with Menopause and Cancer, the goal is not only to treat cancer but to help patients live well after treatment, with menopause support becoming a standard part of the care plan rather than an afterthought. The organization continues to advocate for policy changes, training improvements, and better access to therapies that can ease menopause symptoms for those affected by cancer care.
