Antonia~ Books on Menopause and Breast cancer *Trigger Warning*
*Trigger warning* - mentions cancer and menopause in this blog.
Over the last few months, I have been reading books specifically about menopause and breast cancer. Many of our customers, and even my own family members, have been asked if there was anything written on this subject.
Around 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. Sometimes the treatments for breast cancer can send a person into early menopause, and those diagnosed later in life may have already been going through menopause. So, I thought I would discuss a few books that I have recommended and purchased myself for family members going through the same whilst dealing with breast cancer.
This title has a dedicated chapter on ‘Menopause after Cancer’- discussing the effects and symptoms of treatments and recommending some treatments to help with symptoms and flares. One part I thought most helpful was the FAQ’s, where Abernethy provides some clarity on those questions that sometimes can be daunting to ask.
The book as a whole provides carefully researched information on managing menopause as a whole but I found the chapter focusing on cancer very insightful.
Written from the perspective of a woman who is not only a doctor but a woman who has suffered breast cancer, I found this book to be the perfect tool kit for what I was after. The last part of the book I found most useful as it is about Mukherjees own experience with breast cancer at 41 years old. The wider context of the book looks at menopause as a whole, with specific references to breast cancer where applicable. Having both the medical expertise and the lived experience I feel this book gives the reader so much more when researching menopause and breast cancer.
Everything You Need To Know About The Menopause (but were too afraid to ask) by Kate Muir
This book covers all the questions surrounding menopause, however, whilst there is no dedicated space discussing cancer it is mentioned throughout alongside people’s experiences of menopause. This is an incredibly insightful read for those wanting to know more specifically about menopause- from a social, cultural, and scientific viewpoint.
Cracking the Menopause by Mariella Frostrup and Alice Smellie
Similar to Muir’s book above, this book has no dedicated chapter for breast cancer. Mentions of cancer are limited in this book, however, reading from the viewpoint of women’s history this book is a fascinating read on how women have been treated whilst going through menopause. Additionally, Frostrup writes from her own experience which is a very interesting read.
One book not at all linked with menopause or breast cancer, but one that would bring joy is The Joy of Small Things by Hannah Jane Parkinson. This beautiful book is based on the premise of J B Priestlys book Delight, which is a series of essays on topics that delighted him most. From fresh bedding to petting a cat this book invites you to sit down and think about the things that fill you with delight in your own life. I find myself turning to it when times get hard and listing those things that bring me joy.