Symptoms may not always be severe but can cause anxiety. This factsheet has been written to give you information about menopausal symptoms as a result of breast cancer treatment and give suggestions about coping with these symptoms. Early menopause and infertility are often difficult to come to terms with, particularly for women who hoped to have children or who would have liked more children. These effects can also be hard to cope with when you already have to deal with cancer.
Some people find it helpful to talk through their feelings.
This menopause or change of life happens because the ovaries stop producing the sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. This change in hormone levels can cause a number of symptoms. Symptoms can include hot flushes and sweats, vaginal dryness, increased frequency of passing urine, lower sex drive, tiredness, sleeplessness, dry skin, aches and pains, mood swings, poor concentration, and loss of confidence and memory. Not everyone has every symptom, and symptoms can be mild or more severe. This is because oestrogen in particular helps prevent fat clogging up the arteries and helps maintain bone density.