Menopause

Finding out that you have cancer can be the most devastating thing in the world - whether you're going through the menopause or not. The uncertainty, the agony that you go through - there is literally too much to take in and it is hard to understand just how much the cancer will affect you.

One change that many women do not realise that they could develop because of cancer is the menopause.

Why Cancer Can Cause the Menopause

There are various reasons why cancer can affect the menopause, though it isn't actually the cancer itself which causes these changes, it is the chemotherapy and treatment.

One way in which chemotherapy affects the menopause is that it brings on irregular periods. Irregular periods are one of the most common symptoms of the menopause and usually they are the lead up to it. Chemotherapy can also damage the ovaries and that in turn can bring on the menopause if you are not already suffering from it.

If the menopause is in fact triggered solely by the chemotherapy, there is no real way to be certain of when it will come on. It could be an immediate change and you could end up having to deal with the menopause whilst you are going through chemotherapy, or it could have a delayed reaction. Every person is different and you will find that reaction times do vary. Generally the most common is that you will notice some symptoms when you start the chemotherapy but most will come on after a few months time. It is even possible for the symptoms of the menopause to last for years after the treatment has finished.

If the menopausal symptoms are brought on because of chemotherapy, the symptoms are likely to be a lot worse. This is because you are going through the menopause too early due to the chemotherapy and that means that the body has not had a chance to get used to the changes. It is sudden and therefore the symptoms are usually quite severe.

One fact many women may be shocked to hear is that some men going through cancer treatments may also suffer from menopausal symptoms. Symptoms such as hot flushes, irritability and a low sex drive also affect the men and so it is something which affects literally everyone no matter what their age or sex.

Overall chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can have a big affect on the menopause. Even if they do not trigger the menopause itself, they still give you menopausal symptoms. If your ovaries are damaged during treatment it could lead to the menopause after treatment has finished, otherwise you may just notice the symptoms for a long time but the actual menopause may not necessarily start.

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