Menopause Awareness Month 2026

Did you know that October is Menopause Awareness Month?

At Macmillan we know that menopause can bring a range of physical and emotional changes. For people affected by cancer, treatment and surgery can sometimes cause menopause to start earlier or make symptoms more difficult to manage.

Many people experience hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems, changes in mood, vaginal dryness or changes to their sex life. You may also have questions about treatment options and what support is available.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and what works for one person may not work for another. But sharing experiences can help others feel less alone and give people the support and encouragement when they need it most.

We’d love to hear from you. Below are some questions to get started but feel free to share what you wish about your experience of cancer and menopause.

• What menopause symptoms have you experienced during or after cancer treatment?
• What helps you manage your symptoms?
• Is there anything you wish you’d known about menopause and cancer when you were first diagnosed or started treatment?
• What support have you found useful from your healthcare team, friends, family or other people affected by cancer?

You can also read more about menopause and cancer on the Macmillan website and on this page about Menopause Awareness Month. They include information about symptoms, treatments and getting support.

And for more support on the online community have a look at these blogs from our community members:

Renita’s Story: Breast Cancer, Treatment (including hormone therapy) and Induced Therapy

Sunita’s Story: Ovarian Cancer, Chemotherapy and Post-surgical Menopause