The experience of providing support about menopausal symptoms to women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and expectations of both women with breast cancer and the health professionals who care for them, in relation to the management of menopausal symptoms.

METHOD

A qualitative, exploratory study using a combination of focus groups and in depth individual interviews was carried out to collect data from women with breast cancer (14) and Health Professionals (15).

KEY RESULTS

A number of categories arose including breast cancer experience, menopausal symptoms, seeking support, taking control; with a number of contributory factors.

CONCLUSION

The findings illustrated the complexity of supporting women experiencing menopausal symptoms following their breast cancer diagnosis. They also captured the difficulty women have in isolating these symptoms from their experiences of breast cancer and associated management from diagnosis and beyond. The results indicate that health professionals are working and reacting to individual requests for support in isolation of the team. There is a need to assess and manage women both individually and within a multidisciplinary context. This would allow complex issues that span across the pre, peri, or post-menopausal stages, to be identified and resolved effectively.