Understanding and Managing Menopause After Cancer with CBT: 6.30pm Session

92% of adults find life after cancer harder than treatment. If you’re finding this part tough, you’re not alone.

At Life after Cancer, we offer free support to help you navigate the challenges that often arise once treatment ends , including fear of recurrence, identity shifts, brain fog, relationship changes, and figuring out what matters now.

You can connect with others who’ve had cancer through expert-led sessions, peer support groups, coaching workshops, and our 6-week group programme – all delivered by trained coaches with personal cancer experience, or by leading experts in life after cancer such as doctors, psychologists, clinicians, and researchers.

98% of our community members say they feel less isolated and experience improved mental wellbeing after attending our services.

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In this session with Dr Melanie Smith, we’ll talk about why menopause symptoms are so common following cancer treatment, the impact they have on wellbeing, and how a ‘biopsychosocial’ approach can be applied to support yourself during what can be a challenging time.

A biopsychosocial approach encompasses biological changes induced by treatment which lead to menopause symptoms (e.g. hot flushes/ night sweats, fatigue and sleep, irritability) and how this impacts on emotional wellbeing and stress, which can then make these symptoms worse.

Using an evidence-based cognitive behavioural framework, the session aims to help you explore the interaction between your menopause symptoms, your wellbeing and coping strategies, to help you to develop a calm and self-supportive approach, rooted in self-compassion which can help you feel more in control.

We will look at:

1. Common menopause symptoms following treatment
2. Understanding the importance of thinking and behavioural responses to symptoms and the impact on wellbeing
3. Evidence based strategies to help you feel calmer and more in control of menopause symptoms following cancer treatment.

About Dr Melanie Smith, Principal Clinical Health Psychologist

Dr Melanie Smith is a Principal Clinical Health Psychologist who has been working in the physical health field since completing her Clinical Psychology Doctorate at the University of Manchester in 2006. She was lead therapist on the MENOS 1 and 2 RCTs which evaluated the effectiveness of CBT for menopause symptoms in breast cancer and well women populations. Melanie was part of the clinical and research team for this trial as well as working 1:1 clinically within the Behavioural Medicine service at St Thomas' Hospital, London.

Melanie continued to work with women on a 1:1 basis as well as delivering training in a biopsychosocial approach to menopause to a range of healthcare professionals in conjunction with the British Menopause Society, Bespoke Mental Health, as well as NHS specialist breast care nurse teams in the UK. Melanie has maintained her links with Professor Myra Hunter, co-authoring 3 books as well as evaluating therapy adherence on the MANCAN trials for men experiencing menopausal symptoms following prostate cancer treatment and MENOS 4 which evaluated the delivery of CBT for menopause by breast care nurses.

Melanie works within an NHS interdisciplinary chronic pain service and provides input into the MSK service at Salford Royal Hospital, establishing care pathways between the two services for people with persistent pain including fibromyalgia.

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Who is this for? Anyone who has finished cancer treatment, wants to support their mental wellbeing, and would like to connect with others who’ve had cancer.

The aim: To increase physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing, and reduce isolation. The support we offer reduces the risk of serious mental distress and helps build a positive, purposeful life after cancer.

Your facilitator: Our groups are led by trained coaches who have personal experience of cancer.

Booking your place: Spaces are limited. Please book your spot, and we’ll send you the Zoom link a few hours before the session starts.

Please arrive on time: To get the most out of this coaching workshop, we kindly ask that you arrive by 12.25pm. The session will begin promptly at 12.30pm, and we won’t be able to let anyone in after that time. Arriving late means missing key parts of the session, so please do your best to be on time so you can get the full value from the workshop.

Free places: If you’re unable to make a donation, please select a free space. If all free spaces are taken and you can’t afford a ticket but would still like to attend, email us at support@life-aftercancer.co.uk with your name and the event you’d like to join - we’re here to support you.

Donations: Your donation helps keep our services going. Free tickets are available thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund.