Menopause and cancer

The UCLH Oncology team, led by consultant medical oncologists, Dr Shibani Nicum, Dr Rowan Miller and Miss Gabriella Yongue (Margaret Spittle Clinical Research Fellow and UCL PhD student) are committed to improving the care of patients who have experienced cancer treatment induced menopause.

Many cancer therapies can result in the abrupt induction of menopause, significantly impacting patient’s quality of life and treatment tolerance. Symptoms are often more severe than natural menopause and longer-term impacts on bone and  heart health must be considered. The Target Pathfinder national report demonstrated that 67% of gynaecological cancer patients wanted help with menopausal symptoms and 62% had not received any advice.

Menopause Stand MCC.jpg

To provide specialist advice, the UCLH team have set up a dedicated cancer menopause service for patients. They are developing an innovative technological solution to this problem in the form of the ‘MENO.pause’ app.

The app is designed to be used by health providers in conjunction with patients to provide the best advice, based on national guidance, to manage menopausal symptoms, considering cancer risk factors and other health conditions.

The team are currently raising funds for the app and have already received grants from UCLH Charity Cancer Fund, the North London Cancer Innovation Fund, the British Gynaecological Cancer Society, GSK. As part of menopause month, the team held an event at the University College Hospital Cancer Centre which was supported by the Cancer Fund.Patients and families met clinicians, accessed menopause information (and had a cupcake!).

If you have any questions about this work or would like to be involved, please email Gabriella at UCLH.go.menoresearch@nhs.net