Catherine Richards Golini’s Post

Premature menopause can be caused by certain #cancertreatments, including some surgeries, #chemotherapy, radiation to the pelvis and ongoing hormone suppression treatments. The range of symptoms is wide and may mimic some of the long-term side-effects of #cancer treatments themselves, which can make diagnosing it difficult. Temporary or permanent, this additional challenge is faced by some patients navigating a cancer diagnosis in or around a pregnancy. ⭐The woman or birthing person can be impacted in a number of ways: 💙physical and emotional overwhelm brought on by the shock of premature menopause and potential lack of understanding/awareness. 🤕symptoms can be more severe than a natural menopause and may cause a new mum to struggle, or limit their plans to return to work. 💙mental health symptoms can also be significant, including low mood, anxiety, irritability, forgetfulness, but easily conflated with 'baby brain' 😔symptoms may come on after active cancer treatment has stopped andthe patient may not know who to turn to for help. 💙associated potential long-term health issues include, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, loss of fertility, etc. Liaising with a #menopause specialist and the person's #oncologist can help find the best medications/lifestyle advice to support them. There is also a wealth of information available online on this topic, including the Mummy's Star website, so you can better support patients experiencing this. 👀Check out: ⭐Our Ask the Expert videos http://ow.ly/t2ER50Oukcu ⭐Macmillan Cancer Support and Shine Cancer Support's excellent resources ⭐Other helpful organisations including The Menopause Charity and The Manchester Menopause Hive #cancer #cancerandpregnancy #menopause #prematuremenopause #NHS #maternity #oncology

Ooof. I have so many questions. What would happen if we had control (like in pill form) over when menopause occurs? How would that change not only our health (and chronic disease risk) but the experiences of so many women in mid-life? This article is long but fascinating. I found myself saying, "Okay, but what about...?" so many times while reading. I need some second opinions here. For those who can't access the full article, here is an AI summary: This article discusses groundbreaking research on anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and its potential to influence ovarian aging. David Pepin's discovery that AMH could halt the growth and maturation of follicles in mouse ovaries, essentially reversing the aging process, has opened up new possibilities for extending fertility and delaying menopause in women. The study, conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, showed that AMH might not only have implications for ovarian cancer treatment but could also slow down the aging of the reproductive system. The article explores the current state of women's health and the challenges associated with menopause, emphasizing the need for research in this underfunded area. Researchers like Yousin Suh and Zev Williams are conducting clinical trials using rapamycin, an immunosuppressant, to investigate its impact on ovarian aging. Startups like Oviva Therapeutics, co-founded by Pepin, aim to leverage AMH for fertility treatments and potentially develop interventions to delay menopause. The article acknowledges the issue's complexity, involving factors such as the decline in the number and quality of eggs and the fibrosis of the ovarian environment. It highlights the potential benefits of slowing down ovarian aging, not just for fertility but also for overall women's health, as it may contribute to a longer, healthier life. As the field progresses, the article notes the challenges of bringing potential therapies to market, citing the intricate structure of AMH and the need for further research and funding. The article concludes with differing perspectives on the feasibility of a single pill for reproductive function, emphasizing the ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of ovarian aging. #Menopause #Longevity #longevitymedicine #WomensHealth https://lnkd.in/gX6iG7wr

October marks multiple health awareness days and weeks including World Mental Health Day on October 10, and World Menopause Day on October 18, which I’ll be sharing more on later this month. Today though, I pause to recognise October as being Breast Cancer Awareness month. I wanted to take a moment to spotlight a proud partner of ours in this space, WA’s only accredited screening service, BreastScreen WA. The BreastScreen WA program provides free screening mammograms to asymptomatic women and specifically targets women aged 50 to 74 years, as the scientific evidence of benefit from screening mammography is greatest for women in this age group. However, all women 40 years or over are eligible to attend. After a diagnosis of breast cancer many women experience symptoms of menopause. Sometimes this is because chemotherapy can bring on early menopause, and for others it may be a side effect of hormonal blocking treatments used to prevent later recurrence or due to ovary removal which may be required depending on the nature and stage of a woman’s cancer. For some, the symptoms are manageable, but for many, symptoms of menopause cause stress and major disruption to everyday life, impacting work, psychological wellbeing, and relationships. At Menopause Alliance Australia we want every woman to feel empowered to speak up and address their menopause symptoms, and to seek treatment and stop the stigma around a natural and increasingly common life stage in our ageing society. We cannot do this alone, and we are proud to partner with groups like BreastScreen WA to help us educate and inspire women to shift the mindset around menopause and change the rhetoric. Learn more about menopause and breast cancer from leading Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, Dr Lucy Williams via our website https://lnkd.in/gTBEzRu5, and if you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, speak to your GP or check out the resources available on our site. #menopauseinclusive #breastcancerandmenopause L to R: Here I am together with Julie Wilkes, A/Chief Medical Imaging Technologist, and Dr Eric Khong, GP Liaison Officer, BreastScreen WA.

🔗 Link Between Menopause & Breast Health: A Must-Know Fact! 🔗 Did you know that menopause and breast health are intricately connected? 🌸 This Breast Cancer Education & Awareness Month, let's dive into a vital piece of information that every woman should be aware of. 📚 The Connection: As women transition into menopause, hormonal changes occur, including a decrease in estrogen levels. These hormonal shifts can affect breast tissue, making it crucial to pay extra attention to breast health during this phase of life. 🔍 Why It Matters: Understanding the link between menopause and breast health empowers women to take proactive steps. Regular breast self-exams, screenings, and a healthy lifestyle can play a pivotal role in early detection and prevention. 🎗️ Our Commitment: At Fitness In Menopause, we believe in holistic well-being for women during this transformative journey. We're here to provide support, education, and resources to help you prioritize your health and breast health. 💕 Together, we can create a ripple effect of awareness and action. Share this important information with the women in your life, because knowledge is the first step towards empowerment and prevention. 🌷 Let's honor Breast Cancer Education & Awareness Month by spreading the word and supporting one another. Stay informed, stay empowered! 💪 #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastHealth #MenopauseMatters

October marks multiple health awareness days and weeks including World Mental Health Day on October 10, and World Menopause Day on October 18, which we will be sharing more on later this month. Today though, we at Menopause Alliance Australia pause to recognise October as being Breast Cancer Awareness month and spotlight a proud partner of ours in this space, WA’s only accredited screening service, BreastScreen WA. The BreastScreen WA program provides free screening mammograms to asymptomatic women and specifically targets women aged 50 to 74 years, as the scientific evidence of benefit from screening mammography is greatest for women in this age group. However, all women 40 years or over are eligible to attend. After a diagnosis of breast cancer many women experience symptoms of menopause. Sometimes this is because chemotherapy can bring on early menopause, and for others it may be a side effect of hormonal blocking treatments used to prevent later recurrence or due to ovary removal which may be required depending on the nature and stage of a woman’s cancer. For some, the symptoms are manageable, but for many, symptoms of menopause cause stress and major disruption to everyday life, impacting work, psychological wellbeing, and relationships. At Menopause Alliance Australia we want every woman to feel empowered to speak up and address their menopause symptoms, and to seek treatment and stop the stigma around a natural and increasingly common life stage in our ageing society. We cannot do this alone, and we are proud to partner with groups like BreastScreen WA to help us educate and inspire women to shift the mindset around menopause and change the rhetoric. Learn more about menopause and breast cancer from leading Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist, Dr Lucy Williams via our website https://lnkd.in/gKe4bRcc, and if you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, speak to your GP or check out the resources available on our site. #menopauseinclusive #breastcancerandmenopause #breastcancerawareness L to R: Natalie Martin, CEO & Founder, MAA, with Julie Wilkes, A/Chief Medical Imaging Technologist and Dr Eric Khong, GP Liaison Officer, BreastScreen WA.

It's very humbling - and so exciting - to have our work, our science, our ideas, shared on such a powerful platform. My co-founder David Pepin and I were interviewed for this insightful piece in Bloomberg - along with Jennifer Garrison and several other luminaries from the field - for a sweeping story covering all of the latest and most promising efforts to improve ovarian function, and possibly, female healthspan (the years of life spent in good health) by delaying menopause. "Eventually, Oviva Therapeutics hopes to pull off a feat that seems almost unimaginable: giving women a drug that will allow them to choose when—and whether—they go through menopause. At a time when politicians are eroding women’s hard-won reproductive choices, Oviva’s founders want to give them even more control. 'I see it very much akin to how the contraceptive pill really changed the game for women in the ’70s,' Robinton says." A big thank you to my co-founders David Pepin and Pat Donahoe who have led the foundational science for many decades and set the stage for these ideas to translate into a clinical reality in the coming years. Your thoughtfulness, rigor and dedication inspire me daily! And thank you to Kristen V. Brown who so diligently wrote this piece with a real rigor for the meat, the truth and separating the facts from the hype. You've done a beautiful job and we're both appreciative and impressed! Check out the story below - also coming out in print in the next issue :) Oviva Therapeutics Cambrian Bio Rachel Rimsky Rubin Lorna Fiedler, PhD Francesca Duncan Zev Williams Yousin Suh #womenshealth #menopause #innovation #longevity #futureofhealth #fertility #healthspan #science

Breast Cancer - Early manarche - Late Menopause Early menarche (the onset of menstruation at a young age) and late menopause (the cessation of menstruation at an older age) are both associated with a prolonged exposure to the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is known to promote cell growth in the breast and other tissues. Prolonged exposure to estrogen, especially if unopposed by progesterone (another hormone), can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. Here's how these factors contribute to the risk: 👉 Early Menarche (Early Onset of Menstruation): - Girls who start menstruating at an early age have a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen because their reproductive years are extended. Estrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue, and more prolonged exposure means more opportunities for cell mutations and potential cancerous changes. 👉 Late Menopause (Late Cessation of Menstruation): - Women who experience menopause later in life continue to produce estrogen for a more extended period. The longer the exposure to estrogen, the higher the risk of breast cancer. After menopause, most of a woman's estrogen is produced by fat tissue, and obesity further increases estrogen levels, adding to the risk. In addition to these hormonal factors, it's important to note that other lifestyle and genetic factors also play roles in breast cancer risk. These include family history, inherited genetic mutations (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2), hormone replacement therapy, certain reproductive factors (such as never having children or having the first child after the age of 30), alcohol consumption, and radiation exposure. It's crucial for individuals, especially those with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, to be aware of these factors and undergo regular screenings and check-ups. Early detection and lifestyle modifications can significantly impact outcomes in breast cancer cases. #breastcancerawarenessmonth #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #fightagainstcancer #health #healthandwellness #healthyliving #medicalwriting #faith #supporteachother #caringforthewholeman #medic