Managing menopause after cancer: a qualitative analysis of healthcare professionals’ perspectives
12 affiliations
- 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 2Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 3School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 4Rural Clinical School, Department of Rural Health, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 5Department of Medical Oncology and the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Centre for Health Services Research in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 6Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 7Caring Futures Institute, College of Health and Enablement, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia Australia
- 8Consumer Representative, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 9Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Australia
- 10Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- 11Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC Australia
- 12Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC Australia
Abstract
Background: Menopausal symptoms after cancer (MSAC) are common and can affect overall quality of life. Cancer survivors experience a variety of symptoms for which they may seek support from healthcare professionals (HCPs). Yet, managing MSAC may be challenging for some HCPs. Therefore, understanding HCPs’ perspectives and challenges in providing MSAC care could help propose solutions to improve care provision.
Methods: Using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, we explored the perspectives and challenges of 20 HCPs from a range of specialties involved in the care of women with MSAC. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a reflexive thematic approach with NVivo v12.
Results: Twenty HCPs aged 37–68 years were interviewed. The sample comprised females (n = 17), with primary care physicians being the largest HCP grouping (n = 6), of whom half were MSAC specialists. Participants’ clinical experience ranged from 1 to 35 years (19.95 ± 9.88), and their experience in managing MSACs ranged from 3 to 35 years (14.25 ± 8.69). Five themes with 10 subthemes were identified: (1) contested view of menopause after cancer; (2) HCPs’ resilience in patient-centred care; (3) multidisciplinary patient care; (4) trial, adaptation, and the search for symptom relief; and (5) care constrained by uncertainty and risk.
Conclusion: HCPs recognized the substantial burden of MSAC and have adopted patient-centred care and multidisciplinary approaches. However, the confidence in prescribing menopausal hormone therapy was identified as an area for improvement in clinical practice. For all categories of HCPs, upskilling through targeted education and decision-support tools may improve care.
Implications for Cancer Survivors: For cancer survivors, these findings indicate that HCPs recognise the burden of menopausal symptoms after cancer and that improvements in clinician education, decision‑support tools and clearer referral pathways should translate into timelier, evidence‑informed care (including considered use of MHT where appropriate), better multidisciplinary support and shared decision‑making — all of which aim to reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02042-0.
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BibTeX
@article{serwaa2026managing,
title = {{Managing menopause after cancer: a qualitative analysis of healthcare professionals’ perspectives}},
author = {Dorcas Serwaa and Shanton Chang and Lewis Gauci and Michael Jefford and Carolyn Ee and Martha Hickey and Kate Rolshoven and Jennifer L. Marino and Paul A. Cohen and Christobel Saunders and Nipuni Susanto and Michelle Peate},
journal = {Journal of Cancer Survivorship},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1007/s11764-026-02042-0},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02042-0},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Managing menopause after cancer: a qualitative analysis of healthcare professionals’ perspectives
AU - Dorcas Serwaa
AU - Shanton Chang
AU - Lewis Gauci
AU - Michael Jefford
AU - Carolyn Ee
AU - Martha Hickey
AU - Kate Rolshoven
AU - Jennifer L. Marino
AU - Paul A. Cohen
AU - Christobel Saunders
AU - Nipuni Susanto
AU - Michelle Peate
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/18
JO - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
DO - 10.1007/s11764-026-02042-0
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02042-0
AB - Background: Menopausal symptoms after cancer (MSAC) are common and can affect overall quality of life. Cancer survivors experience a variety of symptoms for which they may seek support from healthcare professionals (HCPs). Yet, managing MSAC may be challenging for some HCPs. Therefore, understanding HCPs’ perspectives and challenges in providing MSAC care could help propose solutions to improve care provision. Methods: Using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews, we explored the perspectives and challenges of 20 HCPs from a range of specialties involved in the care of women with MSAC. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a reflexive thematic approach with NVivo v12. Results: Twenty HCPs aged 37–68 years were interviewed. The sample comprised females (n = 17), with primary care physicians being the largest HCP grouping (n = 6), of whom half were MSAC specialists. Participants’ clinical experience ranged from 1 to 35 years (19.95 ± 9.88), and their experience in managing MSACs ranged from 3 to 35 years (14.25 ± 8.69). Five themes with 10 subthemes were identified: (1) contested view of menopause after cancer; (2) HCPs’ resilience in patient-centred care; (3) multidisciplinary patient care; (4) trial, adaptation, and the search for symptom relief; and (5) care constrained by uncertainty and risk. Conclusion: HCPs recognized the substantial burden of MSAC and have adopted patient-centred care and multidisciplinary approaches. However, the confidence in prescribing menopausal hormone therapy was identified as an area for improvement in clinical practice. For all categories of HCPs, upskilling through targeted education and decision-support tools may improve care. Implications for Cancer Survivors: For cancer survivors, these findings indicate that HCPs recognise the burden of menopausal symptoms after cancer and that improvements in clinician education, decision‑support tools and clearer referral pathways should translate into timelier, evidence‑informed care (including considered use of MHT where appropriate), better multidisciplinary support and shared decision‑making — all of which aim to reduce symptom burden and improve quality of life. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-026-02042-0.
SN - 1932-2259
SN - 1932-2267
ER -