In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Alice Smellie, journalist, author, and co-founder of Menopause Mandate. Alice shares her deeply personal experience of navigating menopause after cancer, including the unexpected challenge of having to stop HRT after years of advocating for its safe and informed use.

This is a conversation about real life — the messy, non-linear, and often imperfect reality of menopause after cancer. Alice speaks with honesty and warmth, offering both insight and solidarity for anyone trying to figure it all out.

We talk about advocacy, resilience, and how sometimes, even when you’ve written the book on it (literally), menopause can still take you by surprise.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

12:56 Cancer Diagnosis and Emotional Turmoil

23:14 Navigating Menopause after Cancer

25:09 Menopause Anxiety Management Strategies

31:18 Coping with Medical Anxiety

33:08 Lingering Impact of Cancer Survival

35:41 "Disconnect to Reconnect: Managing Fears"

41:16 "Exploring Treatment Options"

45:08 Ongoing Cancer Management Struggles

About Alice: 

Alice is co-author of Cracking the Menopause with Mariella Frostrup and her new book Menopause is Hot was out in the US on 21st January 2025. She’s also a regular contributor to publications including the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Times, and Marie Claire. Here are her books:

https://amzn.eu/d/fskHif7

https://amzn.eu/d/4TqRCXU

You can find Alice here on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicesmellie/?originalSubdomain=uk

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub