Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Menopause After Cancer: Survivors’ Experiences about symptom, management and unmet needs (126072)

Dorcas Miss Serwaa 1 , Michelle A/Prof Peate 1 2 , Shanton Prof Chang 3 , Lewis Mr Gauci 4 , Michael Prof Jefford 5 6 , Carolyn A/Prof Ee 7 8 , Martha Prof Hickey 1 2 , Jennifer PhD Marino 9 , Nipuni Miss Susanto 1 2 , Paul Prof Cohen 10 , Christobel Prof Saunders 11 12 , Kate Rolshoven 13
  1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  3. School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Rural Clinical School, Department of Rural Health, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne., Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  6. Sir Peter MacCallum, Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  7. Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
  8. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
  9. Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  10. Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  11. Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  12. Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  13. Consumer Representative, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, , The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Introduction: Menopause is a common long-term experience after cancer treatment. Symptoms can significantly impact quality of life. Unlike many menopause studies focusing on a single cancer type, this research explored the experiences diverse cancer survivors’ experiences with menopausal symptoms and their approaches to symptom management.

Methods: Semi-structured, one-on-one, interviews via Zoom were conducted with participants with diverse cancer diagnosis and histories. Discussions explored their experiences with menopausal symptoms, help-seeking behaviours, and support needs. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach.

Results: Twenty participants (mean age: 53.85 years, range: 30–75) took part in the interviews. Diagnoses included breast, gynaecological, hematological, neuroendocrine, colorectal, and lung cancers. Most had undergone chemotherapy (n=16), were premenopausal before treatment (n=14), and experienced common menopause symptoms such as hot flushes (n=14) and vulvovaginal dryness (n=14). Five key themes were identified: symptom attribution, impact on daily life, motivations and barriers to seeking help, treatments used, and unmet needs. Symptoms negatively impacted various aspects of their lives, including sleep, intimacy and relationships. Many downplayed their menopause symptoms in the context of their cancer. Many had concerns about taking additional medications for menopausal symptoms. Self-management of symptoms was common. Clinician guidance was often insufficient, with some participants feeling their symptoms were dismissed. They often struggled with accessing menopause-specific care. Key unmet needs included the desire for more information from clinicians across the cancer trajectory. In addition, some expressed difficulties in accessing support post-treatment, having to "fight" or "hunt" for help.

Conclusion: Menopause significantly affects cancer survivors' quality of life. Cancer survivors are reluctant to use pharmacological treatments. While many adequately self-managed symptoms, they highlighted the struggle to access adequate support. Addressing their needs requires a shift towards non-medication-based strategies, improved survivorship care pathways, and better clinician guidance on menopause management after cancer.