Navigating Menopause After Cancer

Everyone’s Talking About Creatine. But Should Cancer Survivors Take It?

Creatine seems to be everywhere right now. But what actually is it, what can it do for our strength and muscle, and the big question for this community: is it safe to take after cancer, and can it help with symptoms of menopause?

Today I have two brilliant experts to help us understand both the potential benefits and the safety of creatine after a cancer diagnosis.

First, you'll hear from Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, medical oncologist, who helps us unpack what we currently know — and importantly, what we still don't know — about creatine and cancer. The evidence specifically in people affected by cancer is still limited, so this is an important part of the conversation.

Then I'm joined by Sarah Newman, oncology exercise specialist and founder of Get Me Back, to take the conversation into the practical world of exercise, strength and recovery after cancer.

We talk about what creatine actually does, why maintaining muscle matters so much as we age and go through menopause, and why resistance training is such an important part of the picture.

We also get practical:

Do you have to lift heavy weights?

How often should we be strength training?

Can creatine help if you're not an athlete?

What type should you take?

Does it cause weight gain?

And where should someone start if cancer treatment has left them feeling weak, exhausted or simply disconnected from exercise?

Because this isn't really an episode about taking a scoop of powder.

It's a conversation about rebuilding strength after cancer, understanding our bodies, and finding out what might genuinely help us feel stronger again.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

04:37 Building healthy habits step-by-step

08:13 Building strength after cancer treatment

10:46 Discussing exercise and creatine use

14:59 Importance of diet and recovery

16:54 Concerns about effective muscle maintenance

22:58 Creating supportive exercise spaces

26:34 Rebuilding muscle after chemotherapy

27:57 Incorporating exercise for bone health

32:37 Benefits of strength training

34:30 Supporting diverse health needs

Disclaimer: This episode is for education and information and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare team before starting creatine or any new supplement, particularly during cancer treatment or if you have other medical conditions. Current cancer-specific evidence on creatine remains limited. (Oncology Nursing Society)

Here are the links mentioned in this episode:

Dr Teplinsky’s article on Creatine: https://drteplinsky.substack.com/p/creatine-supplementation-after-a

Find Sarah and her Get me Back Exercise Programs here: https://www.getmeback.uk/

Find Dr Teplinsky’s new book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145

What if tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors weren’t the only options?

For many people with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, endocrine therapy can be lifesaving – but it can also be incredibly difficult to live with. Joint pain, sleep problems, sexual health changes, bone health, weight and metabolic changes can all have a significant impact on day-to-day life.

And for some, the question becomes: what else is there?

In this episode, Dani is joined by oncologist Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, author of Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer, to explore the changing landscape of breast cancer treatment and survivorship.

One of the big topics is SERDs – a newer generation of endocrine therapies that are creating a lot of interest in the breast cancer world. What are they? How are they different from tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors? What did we learn from the LIDERA study? And could having more endocrine treatment options eventually make a meaningful difference for patients struggling with side effects?

But, as always, this isn't only about the science.

Dani also sits down with Rachel Bowman, breast cancer survivor and Director at Menopause and Cancer, to mull over what all of this actually means when you’re the person taking these treatments

Dr Teplinsky also shares the thinking behind her new book, Beyond the Pink, which brings together evidence-based, practical information about the questions people often don't have enough time to explore during an oncology appointment.

Here are the links mentioned in this episode:

Find Dr Teplinsky’s new book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145

Watch this Substack video with Dr Teplinsky on Serds: https://drteplinsky.substack.com/p/ob-gyn-x-oncologist-session-2-asco

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

04:31 Discussing rising early-onset cancers with Dr Teplinsky

09:05 Discussing limitations of current treatments

11:46 Uncertainty with new treatments

16:26 Acknowledging emotional struggles post-chemo

19:10 Evolving breast cancer treatment

22:07 Cancer treatment advancements discussion with Rachel

24:06 Discussing cancer drug availability

28:17 Managing menopause and cancer treatment

31:52 HRT journey in Dubai

36:08 Encouragement for endocrine therapy patients

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

After more than 200 episodes of conversations with doctors, researchers, therapists, cancer specialists and, most importantly, people navigating menopause after cancer themselves, I’ve learned a lot.

Last week, a dream came true, and we hosted our first global menopause and cancer conference for healthcare professionals - and so for this episode, I’m doing something a little different.

I’m sharing five things I now know to be true (I know, a bold statement!) about menopause after cancer. Things I’ve learned at the conference and things I’ve learned over the years.

You might disagree with me - but here are mine (for today anyway!):

There is rarely one “right” answer.

Especially when it comes to HRT after cancer, risk and personal choice.

Treatment shouldn't mean simply putting up with everything.

We need to talk about the impact of treatments such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors — and what can be done to help.

The things that might sound “small” can have an enormous impact.

Hair, vaginal and bladder symptoms, painful sex, body changes — these things matter.

Menopause after cancer isn't just physical.

Anxiety, sleep, confidence, relationships, identity and that feeling of “Who am I now?”

There is almost always something we can do.

We need to look beyond the medical and expand our thinking. From non-hormonal medications and symptom-specific treatments to movement, sleep, psychological support, lifestyle and community — often it's about finding your own combination of things that help.

Episode Mentions:

Episode 74 - Why Would a Menopause Specialist Who Had Breast Cancer Take HRT?

Episode 71 - Combat Hair Issues in Menopause After Cancer

Episode 75 - From Anxiety to PRSD with Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro: Four years of podcasting milestones

04:48 Reflection on September's new beginnings

12:47 Discussing treatment after cancer

17:08 Podcast impact on cancer treatment

27:31 Struggling with menopause and mental health

29:34 Finding support in online groups

34:46 Navigating menopause after cancer

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

Ah, this was a great start to such an important episode! I literally did no planning AT ALL! I just wanted to know from Dr Jordan Emont, our guest on today’s show, if there is a common question he gets asked by his patients in his clinic.

And after getting such lovely personal insights into Jordan’s life, we ended up having an evidence-based conversation about testosterone after cancer, especially for people navigating menopause after breast cancer.

We dig into why access in the US is getting harder not easier and how clinicians think about balancing quality of life with safety when the data is still limited.

This episode is so true to all the conversations we have on this podcast because it sits right in the middle of a real-world clinical grey area: patients want relief, oncologists want reassurance, and doctors are trying to make thoughtful decisions without perfect long-term trials.

Jordan also shares how this topic is evolving in guidelines, why he thinks testosterone can help some people stay on aromatase inhibitors, and where caution still makes sense.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

09:57 Challenges in Women's Health Narratives

13:37 Differences in hormone treatments

17:25 Aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer

18:55 Discussing testosterone for cancer survivors

23:15 Testosterone use and sexual health

25:54 Discussing health and energy levels

30:10 Long-term safety of testosterone use

32:10 Checking testosterone levels timing

35:58 Balancing safety and quality of life

40:54 Testosterone's role in breast cancer

44:39 Discussing hormone therapy benefits

48:47 Testosterone use after prostate cancer

Here are Dr Emont’s links:

Here is his Substack about testosterone this which he’s made free to access: https://drjordanemont.substack.com/p/testosterone-after-breast-cancer

Here’s Dr Sarah Glynne's paper on testosterone to treat menopausal symptoms: https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/fulltext/10.1097/gme.0000000000002777~use-of-transdermal-testosterone-to-treat-menopausal-symptoms

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

“Night sweats. I cannot go on like this. What are people taking who can’t take HRT?”

That was a recent post in our community and the replies came flooding in.

Venlafaxine. Oxybutynin. Acupuncture. HRT. Lifestyle changes. So many people trying different things to manage debilitating hot flushes and night sweats after cancer.

But increasingly, two new names are appearing in these conversations: fezolinetant (Veoza) and elinzanetant (Lynkuet).

These newer non-hormonal medicines have been specifically developed to treat menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. But what are they? How do they work? And, crucially for our community, can you take them after cancer?

I’m joined once again by the wonderful Dr Zoe Schaedel, NHS GP, menopause specialist and sleep expert, to give us a practical roadmap.

We discuss:

• How fezolinetant and elinzanetant work and why they're different from some of the older non-hormonal options
• What we currently know about their use following different cancers
• Side effects, contraindications and the concerns you've perhaps heard about
• How to actually access them
• Why access can vary across the NHS
• What your local formulary and its “traffic light” classification can tell you
• Whether your GP can prescribe or whether you may need a menopause specialist or oncologist

And for our listeners outside the UK, we also talk about some of the barriers to accessing these medicines elsewhere, including the frustrating issue of insurance coverage in the US.

We’ve been following this story for a while…

Way back in Episode 46, I spoke to Professor Waljit Dhillo, one of the researchers behind this new approach to treating hot flushes.

At the time, these medicines felt like an exciting glimpse into the future.

Well, the future is here.

People in our community are now taking them and we're hearing experiences like this:

“Veoza!! After a year on these, I am starting to get a few again, but still a million times better than before!”

So this episode moves the conversation from “What might be coming?” to:

Could this be an option for me and how do I get it?

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

06:23 Treating menopause with neurokinin blockers

09:36 Navigating menopause after cancer

12:02 New menopause treatment options

15:15 GP and menopause specialist roles

19:14 Discussing Vioza and cancer treatment suitability

21:59 Discussing Vyosa and cancer treatment safety

24:47 Observing NICE approval process

29:46 Helping patients stick with treatment

30:26 Discussing Vioza side effects

33:41 Discussing Vioza safety concerns

40:00 Access to new prescription approval

40:47 Understanding UK Medication Access

Here is more info about Dr Zoe Schaedel:

https://www.mylahealth.co.uk/

Other episodes mentioned today:

Ep 124 “How to Fix Your Sleep Issues – From Medication to Mindfulness”

Ep 143 “Alternatives to HRT. Prescribable Non-Hormonal Options”

Ep 146 “Your Plan For Better Sleep.”

And have a listen to Episode 46: A Revolutionary Non-Hormonal Treatment for Hot Flushes! with Professor Waljit Dhillo to hear where this story began.

As always, this podcast is for information and education and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please discuss your individual circumstances and treatment options with your healthcare team.

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

Making difficult decisions after cancer isn’t something we talk about enough.

The kind where there isn’t a clear “right” answer.

Where every option comes with trade-offs.

Where you’re weighing up your long-term health, your quality of life… and sometimes, parts of your identity.

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Jen Delvaux — cancer survivor, podcast host, and founder of a thriving community in the US. Jen’s story is uniquely complex, with both her and her husband navigating cancer diagnoses, bringing a deeply personal perspective on survivorship.

Together, we explore the realities of life after treatment — including sexual health, bone health, basically - all aspects of the often-overlooked impact of treatment-induced menopause.

You can find Jen here: https://www.jendelvaux.com/

And this is her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-today-cancer/id1436449587 and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jendelvaux

Podcast Episode Mentions:

Episode 215 - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-215-bone-health-after-cancer-menopause-what/id1631842514?i=1000764218500

Episode 113 - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-113-the-impact-of-endocrine-disruptors-on/id1631842514?i=1000663146637

Get a copy of Dani’s book here: https://amzn.eu/d/bjU18OM

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

06:09 Living with cancer's emotional weight

08:19 Discussing cancer treatment decisions

12:21 First experience with symptom relief

14:08 Diet and menopause insights

17:17 Balancing health and happiness

19:26 Living life to the fullest

23:26 Coping with cancer as parents

28:43 Discussing osteoporosis diagnosis

32:04 Planning post-treatment support

39:30 Discussing difficult health decisions

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

Let's stop the toxic positivity! Just because active cancer treatment may have ended, we don't have to be endlessly positive and grateful for it all. What comes next can be hard.

That's why I invited Jessica Zucker, clinical psychologist, author of the bestselling book ‘Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame that Pervade Women's Lives’ and breast cancer survivor, to talk about the long silence that often follows women through miscarriage, breast cancer, tamoxifen and medical menopause.

Jessica and I talk about what it means to live with the aftermath of treatment, when the symptoms linger, the uncertainty stays, and the pressure to keep smiling can feel almost unbearable.

We also discuss the hidden toll of tamoxifen, the emotional impact of medical menopause, and why phrases like “you’re a warrior” or “at least” can sometimes do more harm than good.

Jessica was so open about how even she, as a psychologist, found the experience of tamoxifen and long-term side effects surprising and difficult.

We talk about exhaustion, brain fog, loss of creativity, grief, perfectionism and the illusion of control, and why so much of this still goes unsaid.

This is a conversation about naming the harder parts out loud, and making space for honesty, nuance and connection.

Key topics

• The pressure to stay positive after cancer and the harm of toxic positivity
• Jessica’s experience of tamoxifen and medical menopause
• Exhaustion, brain fog and the emotional impact of treatment side effects
• Grief, uncertainty and the pressure to make the “right” decisions

Find Jessica’s fantastic book ‘Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women's Lives’ here https://a.co/d/0hLfwz2z

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

04:07 Discussing the stigma of grief

09:08 Getting a life-changing diagnosis

12:43 Discussing cancer diagnosis and treatment

13:54 Discussing tamoxifen

23:10 Therapists seeking therapy for themselves

24:38 Coping with tamoxifen side effects

28:43 Pressure of Being a Cancer Warrior

31:57 Controlling health outcomes reality check

37:30 Coping with grief and aging

42:58 Sharing personal challenges for impact

A little favour...

If you enjoy listening each week, I'd love to ask one small favour. Would you consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts?

Every review helps more people discover the podcast, and with your support we've now grown into one of the top 1% of podcasts worldwide. That's something we've achieved together, and I'm so incredibly grateful.

Leave a review here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/navigating-menopause-after-cancer/id1631842514

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OhAwupemqzdI6sCXCZLSX

Thank you for being part of this wonderful community. x

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

Welcome to the first guest episode of Navigating Menopause After Cancer.

In the last two episodes, I shared why the podcast has entered a new chapter and reflected on the power of stories: how they help us navigate uncertainty, create connection and remind us that we're never alone.

Today's conversation is a really beautiful example of exactly that.

I'm joined by Michelle and Becky, two incredible women diagnosed with anal cancer back in 2024.

I learned on a previous episode on anal cancer (episode 209) that anal cancer is often surrounded by stigma, shame, embarrassment and silence. It's a cancer that simply isn't talked about enough. And treatment for anal cancer can also induce menopause - so we have to talk about it!

Yet despite receiving the same diagnosis at almost the same time, Michelle and Becky's experiences were very different.

Michelle openly shared her diagnosis but struggled to find someone else living with anal cancer who truly understood what she was going through.

Becky found support from others with anal cancer from the very beginning, but didn't feel comfortable telling many of the people around her she had anal cancer, choosing instead to say she had bowel cancer.

Together, they share an honest conversation about diagnosis, treatment, menopause, intimacy, identity, stigma and why sharing our true stories matters.

One of my favourite parts of this story actually happened away from the recording. After meeting Michelle in person, I introduced her to Ali who had previously shared her own anal cancer story on this podcast... and something rather special has grown from that connection.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

04:01 Finding support after cancer diagnosis

11:19 Dealing with surgical menopause

13:22 Post-treatment challenges and loneliness

19:17 Rebuilding confidence after cancer

22:01 Adjusting to life after stoma surgery

23:59 Dealing with radiation side effects

28:56 Discussing anal cancer stigma

33:01 Connecting with others on TikTok

40:06 Cancer treatment challenges and recovery

45:06 Returning to fitness after radiotherapy

47:49 Finding support during cancer

Links:

Find Michelle & Ali’s new anal cancer support here: The Brave Behinds https://www.instagram.com/thebravebehinds/?hl=en

Macmillan Anal Cancer Support Forum: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/anal-cancer-forum

Ali Stripling’s episode: Beyond the Pink - Anal Cancer, Menopause & Awareness Day: https://youtu.be/V0_5MedxjKw?si=QB-i9XO1uWhQ1Mwf

This podcast episode was supported by an unrestricted grant from Incyte Biosciences. Incyte had no involvement in the development, content, or editorial review of the activities associated with this initiative.

After four years, hundreds of conversations and countless stories, it's time to share what the next chapter of this podcast is going to look like...

In this special solo episode, I reveal the new name and look of the podcast and, more importantly, the reason behind it.

Your feedback made it very clear that the conversations, the experts, the survivor stories and the honesty are exactly what make this community so special. You asked me NOT to make any changes!

But, after reading an amazing book and a visit to the British Museum that followed, I knew I wanted to make a change regardless.

I have goosebumps writing this: I was standing in front of one of the oldest surviving stories ever written!! I mean - how cool is that! And so of course, I found myself reflecting on the power of stories to help us make sense of uncertainty. It reminded me that none of us simply "gets through" menopause after cancer.

We navigate it.

Together.

That's why this podcast has a new name, one that reflects the journey so many of us are on every single day. And of course it also reflects my book title ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’.

Thank you for being part of this next chapter.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why I decided to rename the podcast after four years.
• What I learnt at the British Museum!! And I love it!
• Why stories have helped humans navigate uncertainty for thousands of years.
• Why "Navigating Menopause After Cancer" better reflects the journey so many of us experience.
• The inspiration behind the new artwork and how it connects with my book.
• What isn't changing (don't worry... the experts, survivor stories and honest conversations are all staying!).
• How your feedback shaped every decision.

Links to today’s episode:

Substack: If you'd like to stay connected beyond the podcast, you can also find me writing personal reflections over on Still Becoming, where I share the behind-the-scenes of building Menopause and Cancer, life after cancer, motherhood, identity, and everything I'm still learning.

Subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington

Book: As a thank you for being such an incredible community, I'm also celebrating the first anniversary of my book, Navigating Menopause After Cancer. For a limited time, I've reduced the Amazon price so that more people can access it, or perhaps gift a copy to someone they love.

You can buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/0dqOczqf

Thank you for listening, for sharing this journey with me, and for helping shape what comes next.

After four years of hosting this podcast, I kept thinking about the show's future. I wondered if I should make changes to the format, the episodes, my guests, and I worried if the podcast was still what you guys needed and wanted.

Initially, I did a lot of overthinking - but then I knew I just needed to ask YOU.

So over the past few weeks, I invited you to share your thoughts about the podcast: what you love, what you'd like more of, and whether you thought anything should change.

Your responses made me laugh, made me cry, and reminded me why I pressed record on that very first episode four years ago.

In this special solo episode, I'm sharing what you told me, the feedback that surprised me the most, and why your words have shaped the next chapter of this podcast.

This isn't about reinventing something that isn't broken. It's about listening, reflecting, and making sure the next person navigating menopause after cancer can find the support they need.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why I decided to ask for your honest feedback after four years.
• The survey responses that genuinely surprised me.
• The conversations you want us to have more of.
• Why expert interviews and survivor stories aren't going anywhere.
• The importance of asking the questions that others often avoid.
• What your feedback taught me about this community.
• A hint about an exciting announcement coming next week…

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

05:42 Considering podcast changes

12:21 Listener feedback and appreciation

15:57 Planning podcast future direction

19:47 Book price reduction announcement

21:22 Upcoming podcast announcement

Links for today’s episode:

Substack: If you'd like to stay connected beyond the podcast, you can also find me writing personal reflections over on Still Becoming, where I share the behind-the-scenes of building Menopause and Cancer, life after cancer, motherhood, identity, and everything I'm still learning.

Subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington

Book: As a thank you for being such an incredible community, I'm also celebrating the first anniversary of my book, Navigating Menopause After Cancer. For a limited time, I've reduced the Amazon price so that more people can access it, or perhaps gift a copy to someone they love.

You can buy the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/0dqOczqf

Thank you for listening, for sharing this journey with me, and for helping shape what comes next.

The next chapter begins… next Wednesday.

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