World Menopause Day and Breast Cancer Treatment

We have pulled together some helpful resources to help with some of the symptoms you might be experiencing.

This World Menopause Day we would like to talk about how breast cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or ovarian suppression can cause menopausal symptoms.

These treatments can cause early menopause in premenopausal women or may cause the symptoms associated with it. In postmenopausal women these treatments can cause your symptoms to start again. Stopping HRT due to a breast cancer diagnosis may also cause symptoms to return.

Menopausal symptoms can be severe and have a significant impact on quality of life. These include:

Hot flushes
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Changes to how you experience orgasm
Changes to sex drive
Heart palpitations
Mood changes
Joint pain
Changes to skin and hair
Weight gain, particularly around the waist
Difficulty sleeping
Memory and concentration problems
Feeling anxious or irritable
A crawling sensation under the skin

Hot flush tips:

Keep a battery operated or paper fan to hand
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing, and wear removable layers
Use a silk pillow case, a specially designed pillow that stays cool, or a cooling scarf
Keep a bottle of water with you
Avoid caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods
Carry a water spray to use on your face or wrists to cool you down
Try refrigerating face masks and moisturisers, or give something like the Glow Cube a go

Your breast care nurse, treatment team or GP can help you with options such as medication, CBT or complementary therapies.

You can read more tips, information and advice by downloading the Breast Cancer Now Menopausal symptoms and breast cancer booklet. This includes a symptoms checklist for your medical professional.

We wanted to give the facial icing a try as it could help with multiple menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, changes to skin, crawling sensation or itchiness and mood changes.

This skincare routine could be a perfect pick me-up and mood boosting part of your daily routine. This technique allows you to harness the coolness of ice, which could be great when experiencing hot flushes, especially when you pair it with skin care.

You can use the Glow Cube or use an icetray for this process. We found the mould easier and more user friendly than holding an ice cube.

You can either use water on its own or use recipes to create a mix to help your skin. You can read some of the benefits here.

Menopausal skin symptoms:

Skin may become dry or less plump
May experience acne as result of hormonal fluctuation
Redness in the face

Recipe Ideas

Lemon water – A home remedy for skin conditions such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and age spots

Increases collagen
Fights pimples and inflammatory acne

Cucumber water – Cucumber is 96 percent water, making it a hydrating addition to DIY skin treatments, as well as being generally safe for sensitive skin due to its lack of harsh, potentially irritating ingredients.

Skin nourishment (as a juice).
Soothing and cooling effects.

Watermelon water – Watermelon is loaded with nutrients that are all great for your skin. It holds vitamins such as A, B, and C, that work together to nourish and protect your skin. These vitamins also help boost collagen production which leaves the skin brighter, fades spots, and basically refreshes and revitalises your skin.

Instant hydrator
Reduces inflammation
Acne treatment

*Reference Glow Cube

You could also use soothing ingredients that can help calm skin that feels itchy or inflamed because of hormonal changes during menopause, such as green tea, chamomile, or rosehip.

Combining some of these natural ingredients could be a great way to boost collagen, hydration and soothe changes in your menopausal skin.

Little Lifts Recipe

Cucumber, Lemon and Green Tea

Directions by Glow Cube

Pour water into mold (and ingredients) and set in freezer
Once frozen remove lid and place under running water to activate
Glide on clean skin in the morning for an instant glow, or use over serums and face masks to accelerate product absorption
Apply ice to your face daily in 30 second intervals and circular motions for best results

Advisory by Healthline:

Before giving ice facials a try, discuss it with your healthcare or skin care professional. They may have some concerns or suggestions for your skin condition, medications you may be taking, and current health status.

Use a dedicated ice tray for the cubes you’ll be using for your face. Clean it after each use.
Always wash your face before icing.
Keep a clean washcloth or tissue handy to wipe excess liquid that might drip from your face.
Use a cloth or some other barrier between the ice and your skin. This will protect your hands and face.
Avoid holding the ice on your skin for too long. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can result in ice burn.

We enjoyed experimenting with the benefits of this DIY at home treatment. Let us know if you join us in giving it a try! What’s your winning recipe combo?