Maxine on getting menopause support from other women at Maggie's

I’d spotted that I had some changes in my breast and went to my GP, who then sent me on to a breast clinic. I was diagnosed with breast cancer the same day.

I took my diagnosis really hard – I was very upset, and the nurse suggested I go across to Maggie’s for support. I’m so glad I did, because Maggie’s has been a real lifeline for me.

I have been to various groups for support, including Getting Started before my treatment began. I’ve also attended a fatigue workshop, a sleep workshop, tai chi, yoga and a menopause workshop as well as Where Now?, which really helped me before I went back to work as a secondary school teacher.

Support from other women in the centre and the menopause workshop

I didn’t have to wait for the menopause workshop to be able to access support for this side of my treatment. Just being able to speak with the cancer support specialists and some of the other women coming into Maggie’s and chatting to them at the kitchen table has meant I have had access to lots of advice, even before the workshop.

For me, the worst menopause symptoms have been hot flushes and brain fog. I’ve never been a brilliant sleeper, but I also think crash menopause could be making my sleep much worse. This especially worried me before I went back to school to work full time just after the Easter Holidays this year.

However, the menopause workshop at Maggie’s gave me lots of beneficial advice including relaxation tips. It also helped me to know that I would be okay. That I would be okay going back into the classroom with lots of pupils if I had a hot flush or brain fog when I was trying to do a problem on a whiteboard. I knew this because Maggie’s had helped me to understand what my body was doing and I could explain this to myself to then manage the symptoms rationally, so I knew that I would be okay even in a more pressured situation.

Accelerated menopause symptoms after treatment

Before I was diagnosed, I knew that I had been perimenopausal for about a year, but following my cancer treatment and being put on Tamoxifen, I noticed menopausal symptoms speeding up dramatically and its was frightening. I always thought I’d have had HRT in my arsenal, but having cancer took that option away.

However, the Maggie’s menopause workshop also opened my eyes to other things that could help, like CBT and acupuncture. We were also given a contact for the menopause clinic at the workshop at Maggie’s, which I have accessed to speak about my own personal experiences. This is on hold for the moment as the gynaecology department at the hospital have found that I have fine polyps which will need to be addressed too.

The menopause workshop at Maggie’s has been a brilliant support to me; it has given me a whole wealth of information and a toolbox to fall back on knowing that there are solutions other than HRT for different things in menopause should I need them. For example, there are other medicines available – there is a medicine for hot flushes should I need it and there are other options for different things.

It’s also always really helpful to be amongst other women who know what you’re going through. Crash menopause due to cancer treatment isn’t easy, and it’s good to talk to other women who know exactly what you’re talking about.

We’re here with you

Our cancer support specialists, psychologists and benefits advisors are here for everyone with cancer, and all the people who love them. 

• Come and see us at your nearest Maggie’s
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at enquiries@maggies.org