Episode 241 - From “I Don’t Recognise Myself” to a Future Full of Possibility

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