Navigating Menopause After Cancer

What if tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors weren’t the only options?
For many people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, endocrine therapy can be lifesaving – but it can also be incredibly difficult to live with. Joint pain, sleep problems, sexual health changes, bone health, weight and metabolic changes can all have a significant impact on day-to-day life.
And for some, the question becomes: what else is there?
In this episode, Dani is joined by oncologist Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, author of Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer, to explore the changing landscape of breast cancer treatment and survivorship.
One of the big topics is SERDs – a newer generation of endocrine therapies that are creating a lot of interest in the breast cancer world. What are they? How are they different from tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors? What did we learn from the LIDERA study? And could having more endocrine treatment options eventually make a meaningful difference for patients struggling with side effects?
But, as always, this isn't only about the science.
Dani also sits down with Rachel Bowman, breast cancer survivor and Director at Menopause and Cancer, to mull over what all of this actually means when you’re the person taking these treatments
Dr Teplinsky also shares the thinking behind her new book, Beyond the Pink, which brings together evidence-based, practical information about the questions people often don't have enough time to explore during an oncology appointment.
Here are the links mentioned in this episode:
Find Dr Teplinsky’s new book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145
Watch this Substack video with Dr Teplinsky on Serds: https://drteplinsky.substack.com/p/ob-gyn-x-oncologist-session-2-asco
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
04:31 Discussing rising early-onset cancers with Dr Teplinsky
09:05 Discussing limitations of current treatments
11:46 Uncertainty with new treatments
16:26 Acknowledging emotional struggles post-chemo
19:10 Evolving breast cancer treatment
22:07 Cancer treatment advancements discussion with Rachel
24:06 Discussing cancer drug availability
28:17 Managing menopause and cancer treatment
31:52 HRT journey in Dubai
36:08 Encouragement for endocrine therapy patients
Connect with us:
For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer
Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...
Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

After more than 200 episodes of conversations with doctors, researchers, therapists, cancer specialists and, most importantly, people navigating menopause after cancer themselves, I’ve learned a lot.
Last week, a dream came true, and we hosted our first global menopause and cancer conference for healthcare professionals - and so for this episode, I’m doing something a little different.
I’m sharing five things I now know to be true (I know, a bold statement!) about menopause after cancer. Things I’ve learned at the conference and things I’ve learned over the years.
You might disagree with me - but here are mine (for today anyway!):
There is rarely one “right” answer.
Especially when it comes to HRT after cancer, risk and personal choice.
Treatment shouldn't mean simply putting up with everything.
We need to talk about the impact of treatments such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors — and what can be done to help.
The things that might sound “small” can have an enormous impact.
Hair, vaginal and bladder symptoms, painful sex, body changes — these things matter.
Menopause after cancer isn't just physical.
Anxiety, sleep, confidence, relationships, identity and that feeling of “Who am I now?”
There is almost always something we can do.
We need to look beyond the medical and expand our thinking. From non-hormonal medications and symptom-specific treatments to movement, sleep, psychological support, lifestyle and community — often it's about finding your own combination of things that help.
Episode Mentions:
Episode 74 - Why Would a Menopause Specialist Who Had Breast Cancer Take HRT?
Episode 71 - Combat Hair Issues in Menopause After Cancer
Episode 75 - From Anxiety to PRSD with Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro: Four years of podcasting milestones
04:48 Reflection on September's new beginnings
12:47 Discussing treatment after cancer
17:08 Podcast impact on cancer treatment
27:31 Struggling with menopause and mental health
29:34 Finding support in online groups
34:46 Navigating menopause after cancer
Connect with us:
For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer
Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...
Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

Ah, this was a great start to such an important episode! I literally did no planning AT ALL! I just wanted to know from Dr Jordan Emont, our guest on today’s show, if there is a common question he gets asked by his patients in his clinic.
And after getting such lovely personal insights into Jordan’s life, we ended up having an evidence-based conversation about testosterone after cancer, especially for people navigating menopause after breast cancer.
We dig into why access in the US is getting harder not easier and how clinicians think about balancing quality of life with safety when the data is still limited.
This episode is so true to all the conversations we have on this podcast because it sits right in the middle of a real-world clinical grey area: patients want relief, oncologists want reassurance, and doctors are trying to make thoughtful decisions without perfect long-term trials.
Jordan also shares how this topic is evolving in guidelines, why he thinks testosterone can help some people stay on aromatase inhibitors, and where caution still makes sense.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
09:57 Challenges in Women's Health Narratives
13:37 Differences in hormone treatments
17:25 Aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer
18:55 Discussing testosterone for cancer survivors
23:15 Testosterone use and sexual health
25:54 Discussing health and energy levels
30:10 Long-term safety of testosterone use
32:10 Checking testosterone levels timing
35:58 Balancing safety and quality of life
40:54 Testosterone's role in breast cancer
44:39 Discussing hormone therapy benefits
48:47 Testosterone use after prostate cancer
Here are Dr Emont’s links:
Here is his Substack about testosterone this which he’s made free to access: https://drjordanemont.substack.com/p/testosterone-after-breast-cancer
Here’s Dr Sarah Glynne's paper on testosterone to treat menopausal symptoms: https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/fulltext/10.1097/gme.0000000000002777~use-of-transdermal-testosterone-to-treat-menopausal-symptoms
Connect with us:
For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer
Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...
Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

“Night sweats. I cannot go on like this. What are people taking who can’t take HRT?”
That was a recent post in our community and the replies came flooding in.
Venlafaxine. Oxybutynin. Acupuncture. HRT. Lifestyle changes. So many people trying different things to manage debilitating hot flushes and night sweats after cancer.
But increasingly, two new names are appearing in these conversations: fezolinetant (Veoza) and elinzanetant (Lynkuet).
These newer non-hormonal medicines have been specifically developed to treat menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. But what are they? How do they work? And, crucially for our community, can you take them after cancer?
I’m joined once again by the wonderful Dr Zoe Schaedel, NHS GP, menopause specialist and sleep expert, to give us a practical roadmap.
We discuss:
How fezolinetant and elinzanetant work and why they're different from some of the older non-hormonal options
What we currently know about their use following different cancers
Side effects, contraindications and the concerns you've perhaps heard about
How to actually access them
Why access can vary across the NHS
What your local formulary and its “traffic light” classification can tell you
Whether your GP can prescribe or whether you may need a menopause specialist or oncologist

And for our listeners outside the UK, we also talk about some of the barriers to accessing these medicines elsewhere, including the frustrating issue of insurance coverage in the US.
We’ve been following this story for a while…
Way back in Episode 46, I spoke to Professor Waljit Dhillo, one of the researchers behind this new approach to treating hot flushes.
At the time, these medicines felt like an exciting glimpse into the future.
Well, the future is here.
People in our community are now taking them and we're hearing experiences like this:
“Veoza!! After a year on these, I am starting to get a few again, but still a million times better than before!”
So this episode moves the conversation from “What might be coming?” to:
Could this be an option for me and how do I get it?
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
06:23 Treating menopause with neurokinin blockers
09:36 Navigating menopause after cancer
12:02 New menopause treatment options
15:15 GP and menopause specialist roles
19:14 Discussing Vioza and cancer treatment suitability
21:59 Discussing Vyosa and cancer treatment safety
24:47 Observing NICE approval process
29:46 Helping patients stick with treatment
30:26 Discussing Vioza side effects
33:41 Discussing Vioza safety concerns
40:00 Access to new prescription approval
40:47 Understanding UK Medication Access
Here is more info about Dr Zoe Schaedel:
https://www.mylahealth.co.uk/
Other episodes mentioned today:
Ep 124 “How to Fix Your Sleep Issues – From Medication to Mindfulness”
Ep 143 “Alternatives to HRT. Prescribable Non-Hormonal Options”
Ep 146 “Your Plan For Better Sleep.”
And have a listen to Episode 46: A Revolutionary Non-Hormonal Treatment for Hot Flushes! with Professor Waljit Dhillo to hear where this story began.
As always, this podcast is for information and education and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please discuss your individual circumstances and treatment options with your healthcare team.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer
Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...
Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

Making difficult decisions after cancer isn’t something we talk about enough.
The kind where there isn’t a clear “right” answer.
Where every option comes with trade-offs.
Where you’re weighing up your long-term health, your quality of life… and sometimes, parts of your identity.
In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Jen Delvaux — cancer survivor, podcast host, and founder of a thriving community in the US. Jen’s story is uniquely complex, with both her and her husband navigating cancer diagnoses, bringing a deeply personal perspective on survivorship.
Together, we explore the realities of life after treatment — including sexual health, bone health, basically - all aspects of the often-overlooked impact of treatment-induced menopause.
You can find Jen here: https://www.jendelvaux.com/
And this is her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-today-cancer/id1436449587 and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jendelvaux
Podcast Episode Mentions:
Episode 215 - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-215-bone-health-after-cancer-menopause-what/id1631842514?i=1000764218500
Episode 113 - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-113-the-impact-of-endocrine-disruptors-on/id1631842514?i=1000663146637
Get a copy of Dani’s book here: https://amzn.eu/d/bjU18OM
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
06:09 Living with cancer's emotional weight
08:19 Discussing cancer treatment decisions
12:21 First experience with symptom relief
14:08 Diet and menopause insights
17:17 Balancing health and happiness
19:26 Living life to the fullest
23:26 Coping with cancer as parents
28:43 Discussing osteoporosis diagnosis
32:04 Planning post-treatment support
39:30 Discussing difficult health decisions
Connect with us:
For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer
Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...
Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub