The Menopause and Cancer Podcast Dani Binnington

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 opportunity to ask their questions whilst being on the live show!
We talk about patients not feeling they get adequate upfront discussions to make informed decisions. We talk about not being heard. Who holds the risk? What can you do to manage side effects? 
Dr Claire Macaulay recognises the challenges these treatments come with and talks us through our options. 
Dr Macaulay is also a certified sex coach supporting people in menopause to have improved sex lives. You can find her here https://www.pleasurepossibility.com
And join her private Facebook group here 
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro.
09:36 Understanding symptoms can help manage breast cancer.
13:07 Looking at Predict and how to use it.
21:53 Dealing with cancer treatment's psychological impact.
31:11 Managing menopausal symptoms with medications, side effects.
36:13 Importance of NHS and community care support.
42:54 Medical professionals support patient autonomy and choices.
51:17 Individual doctors must decide risk and comfort.
58:50 Concerns about future treatments and emotional support.
About Dani:
The Menopause and Cancer Podcast is hosted by Dani Binnington, menopause guide, patients advocate for people in menopause after a cancer diagnosis, and founder of the online platform Healthy Whole Me. 
There is lots of information out there about the menopause but hardly any if you have had a cancer diagnosis as well. Many people say to me they have no idea what their options are, who to ask for help, and that they feel really isolated in their experiences. 
I started this podcast because there was nothing out there when I was thrown into surgical menopause at the age of 39, which followed on from my cancer diagnosis aged 33.
Through the episodes, I want to create more awareness, share information from our fabulous guest experts, doctors and other specialists in the cancer and menopause field. 
And of course, I will share stories from the people in our community.
So that together we can work towards a better menopause experience. For all of us.
More educated, better informed and less alone.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub
Mentioned in this episode:
https://move-with-menopause-and-cancer.raiselysite.com/

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’s episode we talk about the loss of our identity and the loss of many other things that come with cancer, and we also talk about creating a new life for ourselves. A different one. Not better, sometimes not worse even. Just different. 
Thank you Liz for your honesty!
Here are the links for Liz:
Books - ‘Under The Knife’ and ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer’ 
Instagram @oriordanliz
https://herspirit.co.uk/virtual-swim-challenge-swim-for-her-by-zoggs/
https://wewearboost.com prostheses
https://www.unobra.co.uk/pages/our-shop - unobra bikinis
https://eno.eco/shop/ - unobra bikinis
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro.
10:54 Struggles with cancer and identity in healthcare.
14:25 Chemo fog affects work and mental health.
20:10 Breast cancer loss, grief, acceptance, and moving forward.
22:11 Pressing tweet button changed life, garnered support.
25:31 Protecting mental health by disconnecting from social media.
33:47 Accepting uncertainty, striving for health amidst risk.
39:36 Educate cancer patients on long-term menopause effects.
42:13 Exercise reduces cancer risk and improves treatment outcomes.
About Dani:
The Menopause and Cancer Podcast is hosted by Dani Binnington, menopause guide, patients advocate for people in menopause after a cancer diagnosis, and founder of the online platform Healthy Whole Me. 
There is lots of information out there about the menopause but hardly any if you have had a cancer diagnosis as well. Many people say to me they have no idea what their options are, who to ask for help, and that they feel really isolated in their experiences. 
I started this podcast because there was nothing out there when I was thrown into surgical menopause at the age of 39, which followed on from my cancer diagnosis aged 33.
Through the episodes, I want to create more awareness, share information from our fabulous guest experts, doctors and other specialists in the cancer and menopause field. 
And of course, I will share stories from the people in our community.
So that together we can work towards a better menopause experience. For all of us.
More educated, better informed and less alone.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram a href="https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

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 to be left with what sometimes can be a debilitating pain. We know a proportion of women even stop their endocrine treatment as the joint pain is too much to bear.
Dr Melanie Hacking and Dr Susanne Hooper, both accredited Menopause Specialists registered with the British Menopause Society (BMS) from The Oxford Hormone Clinic are speaking to us to day to help us understand how we can navigate this very common symptom. 
We cover:
Why do women get joint ache?
How does chemotherapy, tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors make the situation worse?
What can help? Medication? Diet? Movement? Supplements? Heat therapy? Cold therapy? Does relaxation help? 
Does joint pain mean arthritis?
Notes from the doctors: https://www.arthritis.org/ 
You can find Dr. Hacking and Dr. Hooper here https://www.oxfordhormoneclinic.com/menopause-explained#cancer
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
03:28 Discussion on joint pain in menopause and cancer.
09:49 Women should communicate symptoms for improved treatment.
13:21 Movement is key for well-being and mood.
17:58 Low oestrogen leads to osteoporosis risk.
23:52 Use cold first, then heat for inflammation.
25:06 Encourage varied diet, consider supplements for nutrients.
33:12 Nutrition and supplements are vital during illness.
37:09 Treating joint pain in cancer survivors, the options.
40:17 Survivors carry heavy self-care burden, seek recognition.
About Dani:
The Menopause and Cancer Podcast is hosted by Dani Binnington, menopause guide, patients advocate for people in menopause after a cancer diagnosis, and founder of the online platform Healthy Whole Me. 
There is lots of information out there about the menopause but hardly any if you have had a cancer diagnosis as well. Many people say to me they have no idea what their options are, who to ask for help, and that they feel really isolated in their experiences. 
I started this podcast because there was nothing out there when I was thrown into surgical menopause at the age of 39, which followed on from my cancer diagnosis aged 33.
Through the episodes, I want to create more awareness, share information from our fabulous guest experts, doctors and other specialists in the cancer and menopause field. 
And of course, I will share stories from the people in our community.
So that together we can work towards a better menopause experience. For all of us.
More educated, better informed and less alone.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

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 low libido. YES they exist! We had no idea! Options available like Flibanserin (Addyi), Bremelanotide (Vyleesi), Testosterone and even trying erectile dysfunction meds for the clitoris. 
Andrea Martin is a women’s health nurse practitioner, sexual health educator and is trained in gynaecology, urogynaecology, menopause, chronic pelvic pain and sexual medicine.
You can find Andrea on Instagram @andrea.sexplains.it.all
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro.
05:26 Clitoris adhesion and issues explained.
15:42 Vibrators are vital tools for women's health.
19:44 Importance of addressing sexual health in relationships.
22:36 Innovative technique brings joy and empowerment.
24:06 Validate feelings, explore treatments, reconsider sexual options.
30:54 Non-hormonal treatments. 
Episode mention: Ep 56 - Testosterone Therapy is Not Just for Low Libido with Dr Rebecca Glaser
About Dani:
The Menopause and Cancer Podcast is hosted by Dani Binnington, menopause guide, patients advocate for people in menopause after a cancer diagnosis, and founder of the online platform Healthy Whole Me. 
There is lots of information out there about the menopause but hardly any if you have had a cancer diagnosis as well. Many people say to me they have no idea what their options are, who to ask for help, and that they feel really isolated in their experiences. 
I started this podcast because there was nothing out there when I was thrown into surgical menopause at the age of 39, which followed on from my cancer diagnosis aged 33.
Through the episodes, I want to create more awareness, share information from our fabulous guest experts, doctors and other specialists in the cancer and menopause field. 
And of course, I will share stories from the people in our community.
So that together we can work towards a better menopause experience. For all of us.
More educated, better informed and less alone.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

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 stories of concern as collagen has been linked to cancer. 
In today’s episode, I am joined by Dr. Nina Fuller Shavel to answer this once and for all. So that we know the facts to make empowered choices for ourselves.
You can find Dr. Fuller-Shavel here https://www.drninafullershavel.com/
Her new book “Integrative Oncology in Breast Cancer Care’ can be found HERE.
Download your FREE Getting Started Guide here: https://menopauseandcancer.org/getting-started-guide/
Episode highlights:
00:00 Intro
04:53 Collagen benefits for joint and skin health.
08:04 Long-term safety unknown; worth trialling cautiously.
10:08 Vegan supplements may support collagen, but unproven.
16:06 Dietary amino acids impact collagen production differently.
17:11 Taking collagen during cancer treatment, consult your doctor.
24:42 Diverse toolkit for joint health including Rosehip.
27:41 Empowerment comes from variety.
Thank you to our sponsors of this episode: https://www.oxfordhormoneclinic.com/
The team at The Oxford Hormone Clinic are passionate in helping people with a history of cancer. They are a holistic clinic focusing on informed choice regarding all aspects of menopause care; from lifestyle advice, over the counter supplements, to Body Identical Hormone replacement, always based upon British Menopause Society (BMS) and NICE guidelines.
About Dani:
The Menopause and Cancer Podcast is hosted by Dani Binnington, menopause guide, patients advocate for people in menopause after a cancer diagnosis, and founder of the online platform Healthy Whole Me. 
There is lots of information out there about the menopause but hardly any if you have had a cancer diagnosis as well. Many people say to me they have no idea what their options are, who to ask for help, and that they feel really isolated in their experiences. 
I started this podcast because there was nothing out there when I was thrown into surgical menopause at the age of 39, which followed on from my cancer diagnosis aged 33.
Through the episodes, I want to create more awareness, share information from our fabulous guest experts, doctors and other specialists in the cancer and menopause field. 
And of course, I will share stories from the people in our community.
So that together we can work towards a better menopause experience. For all of us.
More educated, better informed and less alone.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Join our Facebook group: a...

Episode 100 is a special celebration, and this time, it's all about you! We're flipping the script, as Dani takes a turn in the hot seat and gets interviewed by one of the remarkable women who work tirelessly to bring this show to you every week. Tune in for heartfelt messages from our community, candid discussions about the podcast's behind-the-scenes, and reflections on what it means for us to reach this milestone together.
If you’re thinking of doing your own podcast, I’d say DO IT! You can contact Phoebe here https://winteraudio.co.uk/
Download your FREE Getting Started Guide here: https://menopauseandcancer.org/getting-started-guide/
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
00:56 Celebrating 100 episodes of Menopause and Cancer.
07:17 Celebrating success, journey, reflection, encouragement, life stages.
12:18 Voice note from Rachel.
14:39 Passionate networker celebrating human stories and connections.
19:34 Voice note from Terri.
21:37 Cancer impact lingers, support available for life.
28:43 Voice note from Susie.
31:57 Passionate about work, excited about projects. Creating change.
37:33 Cook together, enjoy socialising with friends.
41:49 Voice note from Siobhan 
About Dani:
The Menopause and Cancer Podcast is hosted by Dani Binnington, menopause guide, patients advocate for people in menopause after a cancer diagnosis, and founder of the online platform Healthy Whole Me. 
There is lots of information out there about the menopause but hardly any if you have had a cancer diagnosis as well. Many people say to me they have no idea what their options are, who to ask for help, and that they feel really isolated in their experiences. 
I started this podcast because there was nothing out there when I was thrown into surgical menopause at the age of 39, which followed on from my cancer diagnosis aged 33.
Through the episodes, I want to create more awareness, share information from our fabulous guest experts, doctors and other specialists in the cancer and menopause field. 
And of course, I will share stories from the people in our community.
So that together we can work towards a better menopause experience. For all of us.
More educated, better informed and less alone.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub