Navigating Menopause After Cancer

What happens when cancer treatment ends, but menopause symptoms mean you still don't feel like yourself? This week, I'm joined by the wonderful Sue Weldon, founder of Unite for Her, who shares her incredibly honest and inspiring story of life after breast cancer. Sue remembers looking in the mirror after treatment and barely recognising herself. Her body had changed, she was dealing with menopause and a whole host of unexpected side effects, and yet everyone seemed to think she should be celebrating that treatment was over. Sound familiar? What I love about Sue's story is how she turned her own experience into something extraordinary. She founded Unite for Her, a nonprofit supporting people affected by breast cancer through integrative care, and has now written a beautiful book, Heal, Empower, Restore. Sue shares the simple things that make a difference in her everyday life, from sleep and movement to nutrition, community and, importantly, giving yourself permission to rest. In this episode, we explore: Why finishing cancer treatment doesn't always mean feeling better The unexpected impact of menopause after cancer How integrative therapies can support recovery alongside conventional cancer care Finding confidence and reconnecting with your body The importance of sleep, movement, nutrition and community Learning to say YES to life again This is such a lovely conversation about hope, resilience and recognising that life after cancer might look different, but it can still be full of possibility. I hope you enjoy listening! 💜 Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 04:15 Founding Unite for Her nonprofit 06:27 Young adults learning menopause support 10:55 Discussing acupuncture benefits 13:02 Challenges of insurance covering acupuncture 17:14 Discussing cancer treatment decisions 21:42 Deciding on endocrine therapy 30:42 Finding personal balance and support 36:49 Sue’s non-negotiables Resources mentioned: Unite for Her and Sue’s book: https://uniteforher.org/healempowerrestore/ Link: Previous podcast episode on oncology acupuncture: Episode 210 - Can Acupuncture Help Menopause Symptoms After Cancer? Looking at the Research Connect with us: For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?... Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

Protein, sugar, soya, supplements, inflammation… what should we actually be eating when we're navigating menopause after cancer? Cancer treatment can bring on menopause earlier than expected, and suddenly we're dealing with a whole new set of challenges. Weight changes, hot flushes, bone health, cholesterol, fatigue and brain fog — all while wondering whether what we eat might affect our long-term health or risk of cancer recurrence. And with so much conflicting nutrition advice out there, it's easy to feel completely overwhelmed! In this episode, I'm joined by returning guest, nutritionist and now bestselling author (!!) Julie, to cut through the confusion and help us understand what really matters when it comes to eating well in menopause after cancer. We're playing a game of Yes, No or Maybe?, tackling some of the questions we hear most often: Can changing our diet really make a difference to our health after cancer? If we're already eating healthily, do we need to change anything when menopause hits? Does the type of cancer we've had affect what we should eat? Do we need different diets for our bones, cholesterol, heart health and menopause symptoms? Does sugar really feed cancer? Is soya safe after cancer? What about red meat and dairy? Are there supplements we should be taking — or avoiding? And do we still need nutrition books in the age of AI and social media?! This is a practical conversation about nourishing our bodies, supporting our health through menopause and letting go of unnecessary food fears. Because after everything our bodies have been through, eating well should be about feeling better, not adding another layer of worry. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro and quick-fire questions with Julie 07:11 Addressing food anxiety and confusion 12:04 Mediterranean diet principles overview 18:13 Menopause and dietary support 20:32 Supporting Hormones Through Diet 25:13 Post-treatment weight management struggles 27:59 Discussing cholesterol and endocrine treatment 33:05 Balancing Blood Sugar Levels 36:18 Discussing blood sugar management 37:41 Skipping or delaying breakfast 40:54 Red meat consumption guidelines 48:02 Discussing supplement effectiveness and costs Resources mentioned: Julie's new book: https://amzn.eu/d/034hftyv You can find Julie here https://www.juliewebbnutrition.org/ Navigating Menopause After Cancer by Dani Binnington https://amzn.eu/d/03rPbPvs Other podcast episodes with Julie: Ep 147 – Which Diet Helps Ease Menopause Symptoms After Cancer? with Julie Webb Ep 161 – Why a High-Protein Diet Isn't The Answer with Julie Webb Ep 190 – Inflammation and Menopause After Cancer: How Food Can Help with Julie Webb Connect with us: For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?... Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

This week I’m joined by my lovely friend and community member Jenny Costelloe, alongside oncologist Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, to talk about something I know so many of you will relate to: weight changes after cancer treatment, the struggle to lose weight during ongoing treatment, and the growing conversation around GLP-1 medications. But this episode is really about much more than weight. It’s about what happens when cancer treatment, menopause, joint pain, changes to your body and quality of life all collide – and how we begin to work out what might actually help. Jenny shares her breast cancer story and talks very honestly about the impact surgical menopause and endocrine therapy have had on her body and her life. At one point, she describes feeling almost physically broken – dealing with weight gained through chemotherapy and treatment, reduced mobility and persistent pain that was making everyday life increasingly difficult. We also hear from board-certified oncologist Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, who helps us understand the emerging evidence around GLP-1 medications after cancer, what we know and still don’t know, and why conversations about weight, metabolic health, symptoms and being able to stay on cancer treatment really matter. And I love something Jenny says during our conversation: “This is just about finding the path that works for you individually.” I couldn’t agree more. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 05:35 Navigating menopause during cancer treatment 08:09 Considering GLP-1s and BMI thresholds 12:12 Dr Eleonora Teplinsky’s perspective on menopausal concerns 17:06 Impact of endocrine therapy on weight 17:55 Challenges in weight management and sleep 21:00 Exploring GLP-1s and cancer risk 24:17 Concerns with GLP-1 and lifestyle changes 27:36 Discussing weight loss medication options 32:26 Starting GLP-1s with no side effects 35:43 Reduced alcohol craving on GLP-1 40:17 Struggles with post-treatment life 41:36 Starting strength training journey 44:46 Evaluating cancer treatment effects You can find Dr Teplinsky here: https://www.instagram.com/drteplinsky/?hl=en Dr Teplinsky’s book: Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer Is here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=57434&awc=3787_1787842057_ae304a0903d89dccf48ecd30b2f05367&sn=1&utm_source=57434&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Easyfundraising And here is the article on GLP1’s Dani mentions in the podcast: https://www.oncnursingnews.com/view/glp-1-receptor-agonists-show-promise-in-asco-2026-research A note on GLP-1 microdosing: The term microdosing does not currently have a universally accepted scientific definition. It can refer to different approaches to dosing GLP-1 medications, and the evidence supporting these approaches varies. Listeners should not assume that microdosing is an established or clinically recommended practice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to prescribed medication.

Everyone’s Talking About Creatine. But Should Cancer Survivors Take It? Creatine seems to be everywhere right now. But what actually is it, what can it do for our strength and muscle, and the big question for this community: is it safe to take after cancer, and can it help with symptoms of menopause? Today I have two brilliant experts to help us understand both the potential benefits and the safety of creatine after a cancer diagnosis. First, you'll hear from Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, medical oncologist, who helps us unpack what we currently know — and importantly, what we still don't know — about creatine and cancer. The evidence specifically in people affected by cancer is still limited, so this is an important part of the conversation. Then I'm joined by Sarah Newman, oncology exercise specialist and founder of Get Me Back, to take the conversation into the practical world of exercise, strength and recovery after cancer. We talk about what creatine actually does, why maintaining muscle matters so much as we age and go through menopause, and why resistance training is such an important part of the picture. We also get practical: Do you have to lift heavy weights? How often should we be strength training? Can creatine help if you're not an athlete? What type should you take? Does it cause weight gain? And where should someone start if cancer treatment has left them feeling weak, exhausted or simply disconnected from exercise? Because this isn't really an episode about taking a scoop of powder. It's a conversation about rebuilding strength after cancer, understanding our bodies, and finding out what might genuinely help us feel stronger again. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 04:37 Building healthy habits step-by-step 08:13 Building strength after cancer treatment 10:46 Discussing exercise and creatine use 14:59 Importance of diet and recovery 16:54 Concerns about effective muscle maintenance 22:58 Creating supportive exercise spaces 26:34 Rebuilding muscle after chemotherapy 27:57 Incorporating exercise for bone health 32:37 Benefits of strength training 34:30 Supporting diverse health needs Disclaimer: This episode is for education and information and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare team before starting creatine or any new supplement, particularly during cancer treatment or if you have other medical conditions. Current cancer-specific evidence on creatine remains limited. (Oncology Nursing Society) Here are the links mentioned in this episode: Dr Teplinsky’s article on Creatine: https://drteplinsky.substack.com/p/creatine-supplementation-after-a Find Sarah and her Get me Back Exercise Programs here: https://www.getmeback.uk/ Find Dr Teplinsky’s new book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145

What if tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors weren’t the only options? For many people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, endocrine therapy can be lifesaving – but it can also be incredibly difficult to live with. Joint pain, sleep problems, sexual health changes, bone health, weight and metabolic changes can all have a significant impact on day-to-day life. And for some, the question becomes: what else is there? In this episode, Dani is joined by oncologist Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, author of Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer, to explore the changing landscape of breast cancer treatment and survivorship. One of the big topics is SERDs – a newer generation of endocrine therapies that are creating a lot of interest in the breast cancer world. What are they? How are they different from tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors? What did we learn from the LIDERA study? And could having more endocrine treatment options eventually make a meaningful difference for patients struggling with side effects? But, as always, this isn't only about the science. Dani also sits down with Rachel Bowman, breast cancer survivor and Director at Menopause and Cancer, to mull over what all of this actually means when you’re the person taking these treatments Dr Teplinsky also shares the thinking behind her new book, Beyond the Pink, which brings together evidence-based, practical information about the questions people often don't have enough time to explore during an oncology appointment. Here are the links mentioned in this episode: Find Dr Teplinsky’s new book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145 Watch this Substack video with Dr Teplinsky on Serds: https://drteplinsky.substack.com/p/ob-gyn-x-oncologist-session-2-asco Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 04:31 Discussing rising early-onset cancers with Dr Teplinsky 09:05 Discussing limitations of current treatments 11:46 Uncertainty with new treatments 16:26 Acknowledging emotional struggles post-chemo 19:10 Evolving breast cancer treatment 22:07 Cancer treatment advancements discussion with Rachel 24:06 Discussing cancer drug availability 28:17 Managing menopause and cancer treatment 31:52 HRT journey in Dubai 36:08 Encouragement for endocrine therapy patients Connect with us: For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer Find us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?... Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub