Resource for women navigating menopause and diet after cancer

A new innovative resource was launched earlier this year for women affected by cancer who are experiencing a treatment-induced menopause. The booklet Menopause, Diet, and Cancer is designed to offer practical, evidence-based guidance on how dietary and lifestyle choices can alleviate menopausal symptoms and enhance overall wellbeing.

Developed by CORU-registered dietitians Dr Samantha Cushen and Ms Katie Johnston from School of Food and Nutritional Sciences and Cancer Research at University College Cork, in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, the booklet emerged from the Women’s Health Initiative ‘Linking You with Support and Advice’ Trial.

Cancer treatments can sometimes trigger a sudden, intense menopause, often leading to more severe symptoms than those of natural menopause. For some, these symptoms are manageable, while others may find them overwhelming. They can impact quality of life and compound the physical and emotional burdens many women face during and after their cancer journey.

The resource integrates lived experiences, sound scientific evidence, and the invaluable perspectives of patients themselves, making it a trusted companion for women embarking on this complex journey.

Dr Cushen said: “Navigating menopause after cancer is hard enough ‒ finding clear nutrition advice shouldn’t be. For too long, women have been left to piece together guidance from too many, often conflicting, sources. In a world full of nutrition misinformation, this book brings it all together, offering clarity, compassion, and credible answers in one evidence-based guide designed to support, inform, and reassure.”

The authors stated: “The launch of Menopause, Diet, and Cancer marks a crucial breakthrough in Ireland, where dietetic support for cancer survivors is virtually non-existent. This resource takes an important step towards making trusted dietetic advice a standard part of care for women after cancer ‒ but much more needs to be done to ensure every woman has access, and we are determined to make that a reality.”

The resource is available at https://www.cancer.ie/menopauseplate.